Excerpt:
Four separate storm systems are churning their way through the West Pacific simultaneously, a rare occurrence resulting from warmer oceans that threatens to bring more misery to the storm-weary Philippines.
It is the first time that four named storms have existed at the same time in November since records began in 1951, Japan’s Meteorological Agency confirmed to CNN Tuesday. It’s also the first time in seven years that it has happened in any month.
Satellite images from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center show the four storms spanning the vast West Pacific basin, from Vietnam to Guam.
They are Typhoon Yinxing, Typhoon Toraji, Tropical Storm Usagi and Tropical Storm Man-Yi.
The Philippines is struck by multiple storms annually, but the relentless pace of successive typhoons in the last month has complicated recovery efforts and thousands of people remain in evacuation shelters.
Typhoon Yinxing hit the northeastern Philippines on Thursday, with winds equivalent to a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane. There were no casualties reported but the storm brought torrential rain, storm surges and landslides.
After moving through the Philippines and into the South China Sea, Yinxing drifted west toward China’s Hainan province before veering south to Vietnam, where it is unleashing heavy rains on the country.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited communities in Cagayan and Iloco Norte, which were impacted by Typhoon Yinxing.
“While we’re truly grateful that no lives were lost, the damage it left behind has affected homes, schools and livelihoods,” Marcos told residents in Cagayan while handing out food and aid packages on Sunday. “As we focus on recovery, we’re also preparing for another storm that may come our way…”
