FOLLOW US

The Philippines is bracing for the world's strongest typhoon, which is expected to make landfall on Sunday. Authorities in the Southeast Asian country ordered the evacuation of nearly one million residents in the southern part of its main island Luzon on Saturday.

With 133 miles sustained winds and gusts of up to 164 miles per hour, Typhoon Goni — locally known as Super Typhoon Rolly — is the strongest typhoon to hit the country since Haiyan, which laid waste to the Visayas group of islands, the Philippines’ central region and home to about 17 million people, Reuters reported.

Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni) prompted mass evacuations in Luzon

Preemptive evacuations have begun in coastal and landslide-prone areas in the provinces of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, both in Luzon island. The Albay provincial government, on the other hand, also reportedly ordered residents in risky areas to leave their homes.

Super Typhoon Rolly (Goni), a very intense category 5 storm, is reportedly forecast to cross Southern Luzon and the capital Metro Manila areas, before exiting the mainland Luzon landmass on Monday.

The Philippine office dedicated to providing flood and typhoon warnings warned that a high risk of a storm surge of more than three meters may be expected over the northern coastal areas of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Provinces, and Catanduanes.

Earlier this week, Typhoon Molave killed 22 people in the Southeast Asian country, as it dumped heavy rains in provinces south of the capital Manila, which is also in the projected trail of Goni.

Evacuations could worsen the Philippines' COVID-19 cases

Philippine officials are facing another struggle as social distancing protocols need to be imposed in evacuation facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Philippine health authorities called on safety officers to remind those in the evacuation centers to wear face masks, frequently wash their hands, and observe social distancing.

Local governments were also advised to set up evacuation sites capable of abiding by health standards amid the raging pandemic, with handwashing stations and alcohol supply in place.

The Philippines has the second-highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths in Southeast Asia, only behind Indonesia.

---------------------------------------- Have a story you want USA Herald to cover? Submit a tip here and if we think it's newsworthy, we'll follow up on it. Want to contribute a story? We also accept article submissions – check out our writer's guidelines here.