Typhoon Yinxing struck the Philippines on Thursday afternoon, impacting Luzon, the country's largest island, with maximum sustained winds reaching approximately 144 miles per hour. The U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center confirmed that the storm made landfall around 2 p.m. in Santa Ana, moving west northwest, as reported by the nation’s meteorological service.
In anticipation of the storm, more than 160,000 individuals were evacuated by early Thursday. The devastating weather led to the closure of various schools and workplaces, with authorities issuing urgent warnings regarding possible storm surges nearing 10 feet.
Recognizing the danger, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared a state of high alert and mobilized public works and transportation departments for immediate road-clearing efforts post-storm. Flash flood alerts have been issued along with landslide warnings, urging citizens to evacuate or find shelter.
Historically, the Philippines faces about 20 typhoons annually. Last month, Tropical Storm Trami caused significant devastation, leading to 80 deaths and displacing half a million residents after it swept through northern provinces.
As communities brace for the impacts of Yinxing, the nation’s resilience faces another test amid an increasingly volatile climate. Jin Yu Young, stationed in Seoul, reports on the ongoing developments in the Asia Pacific region and broader global crisis narratives.