One dead as Philippines faces 'most damaging typhoon'

Tyohoon Sarika could be the most devastating yet.

A Filipino fisherman secures a boat engine at a swelling river in Las Pinas city, south of Manila, Philippines, on October 15, 2016 in preparation for Typhoon Sarika. Francis R.Malasig / EPA

MANILA // At least one person was killed and three were missing as the Philippines faces what could be “the most damaging” storm this year in the approaching Typhoon Sarika.

A man was found dead on the seashore while three fishermen were reported missing in the eastern island of Catanduanes as Sarika, bringing winds of180 kilometres per hour, passed nearby, said the civil defence office on Saturday.

Although the storm did not hit the island directly, its strong winds and heavy rains still knocked out all power and telephone lines for the more than 246,000 residents of Catanduanes, the office added.

While the typhoon is not the most powerful to hit the country this year, it could cause the most damage as it will cross heavily-populated areas just north of Manila, said government weather forecaster Benison Estareja.

“We can see from the radar that the storm is very destructive. It can destroy wooden houses, it can topple trees. It can possibly rip off roofs,” he said. “This could so far, be the most damaging typhoon this year.”

Sarika is forecast to hit the province of Aurora on the east coast of the main island of Luzon before dawn Sunday and to cross central Luzon before heading out to sea by Sunday evening.

“This one will have an effect because most of the people are in (that part of) Luzon. Even Metropolitan Manila will be affected,” Mr Estareja warned.

These areas will experience strong winds and heavy rains, with coastal areas at risk of storm surges of up to two metres. Low-lying areas will be at risk of flooding while mountainous areas could suffer landslides.

Although the storm did not hit the eastern region of Bicol, that area experienced heavy rains as it passed nearby on Saturday, said civil defence spokeswoman Rachel Miranda.

More than 400 people were evacuated from their homes and sea and air travel in these areas has been suspended as a safety precaution.

The Philippine Islands are often the first major land mass to be hit by storms that generate over the Pacific Ocean. The Southeast Asian archipelago endures about 20 major storms each year. On November 8, 2013, Haiyan, the strongest typhoon ever recorded to hit land, left 7,350 people dead or missing.

* Agence France-Presse