The Philippines declared a state of calamity in a northern province after Super Typhoon Megi hit yesterday, cutting off power and communications, forcing flight cancellations and putting the region’s rice crop at risk.
Megi, the 10th and strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, hit Isabela province at 11:25am and by early evening was heading west-southwest across the north of the main island of Luzon with winds of 180kph near the center, forecasters said.
Tropical Storm Risk (www.tropicalstormrisk.com) said Megi, known locally as Juan, was a category 5 super typhoon, the highest rating, with winds of more than 250kph when it hit mountains in northeast Luzon at 11:25am.
PHOTO: EPA
“The governor of Isabela declared a state of calamity, so there could be massive damage and destruction there,” said Benito Ramos, executive director of the national disaster agency. “Power has been cut and crops about to be harvested could have been destroyed. We have no actual report because we’re waiting for the weather to clear up to make an assessment.”
Initial reports were of one death and a small number of casualties, although the National Telecommunications Commission said up to 90 percent of communications in Isabela and Cagayan provinces may have been knocked out.
Television footage showed uprooted trees on roads, and metal and thatched roofing blown off houses.
In six hours from 8am, the city of Tuguegarao in Cagayan had 54mm of rain, while Baguio City on the western side of Luzon had 28mm, the weather bureau said.
The typhoon was expected to clear Luzon Island around midnight last night, and head across the South China Sea toward China.
Angelito Banayo, administrator of the National Food Authority, told reporters the government’s worst case scenario was that Megi could damage 232,000 tonnes of unmilled rice crop in the north, with only 30 percent of it able to be harvested.
The Philippines is the world’s biggest rice importer and damage from the typhoon could see it buy more than had been expected for this year, which could push up -international prices.
Andrew Villacorta, regional executive director in the agriculture department, said the Cagayan Valley accounted for 12 percent of national rice output, or about 1 million tonnes of unmilled rice.
He said just over one third of the crop had been harvested, while about 90 percent of the corn crop had been harvested.
Last year, the country lost 1.3 million tonnes of paddy rice following three strong typhoons in September and October, prompting it to go to the market early to boost its stocks.
“This could bring destruction to our crops,” said Val Perdido, a regional farm official. “It’s the peak of harvest season now. More than 230,000 hectares of rice fields are still in their reproductive and maturing stages.”
Agricultural production makes up a fifth of GDP.
Local officials in Isabela province declared a state of calamity to ensure food and energy supply and spend more on rescue, relief and rehabilitation work after the typhoon leaves, officials at the disaster agency said.
There were warnings of flash floods, river banks breaking and landslides in mountain areas of Luzon, and heavy rains were still expected in the typhoon’s tail.
Officials said the US military, holding a nine-day drill with Filipino counterparts, had offered seven helicopters to deliver relief goods and rescue marooned residents if needed.
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