Typhoon Hagupit Approaches the Capital of the Philippines

The Philippine Red Cross announced that the death toll from Typhoon Hagupit in the central and eastern regions of the country has reached 21 as of Monday, December 8. The typhoon is currently on its way to Manila, the capital of the 12 million people in the Philippines. Gwendolyn Pang, Secretary General of the Philippine Red Cross, stated in an interview with Reuters: "We confirm reports of 21 deaths in [Eastern] Samar province, with 16 of those occurring in [the city of] Borongan. Most of the fatalities were drowned in floods." Typhoon Hagupit, which comes from the Pacific Ocean, struck Samar Island, the third largest island in the Philippines, on Saturday night, forcing about one million people to seek shelter. The storm also swept through other central areas of the Philippines, including Leyte Island and Southern Luzon, and has now reached Manila, albeit weakened. Reports from Manila indicate that administrative activities in the capital have been significantly affected by the storm. A Reuters reporter writes that markets, schools, and some public offices in Manila have been closed, and residents of lower-lying areas and those living near waterways have been moved to shelters. The military and rescue organizations have also been put on standby. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Typhoon Hagupit has weakened after passing through the central regions of the country, but its speed is still 105 kilometers per hour, with some gusts reaching 135 kilometers per hour. The Philippines also experienced the devastating Typhoon Haiyan last year, which resulted in over 7,000 deaths, prompting Philippine authorities to take action ahead of Typhoon Hagupit by implementing various measures to combat the storm, including the complete evacuation of coastal towns and villas in its path.