Typhoon Yinxing struck the Philippines on Thursday afternoon, unleashing violent winds and heavy rainfall across Luzon, the country's most populous island. According to the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the storm reached maximum sustained winds of approximately 144 miles per hour, categorizing it as a Category 4 cyclone, before making landfall in Santa Ana around 2 p.m. It was moving in a west-northwest direction, as reported by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Prior to the storm's arrival, more than 160,000 residents had already been evacuated, as indicated by the Office of Civil Defense. Various schools and workplaces were closed in preparation for the impending impact, and authorities warned that storm surges could reach heights of nearly 10 feet.
On the eve of the storm, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that the nation was on "high alert," directing the public works and transportation departments to prepare for immediate road-clearing operations. As a precaution, the government issued warnings about potential flash floods and landslides and strongly recommended that residents either evacuate or seek secure shelter.
The Philippines, which routinely faces the fury of tropical storms—with an average of 20 occurring each year—has seen its share of natural disasters recently. Just two months prior, Typhoon Krathon wreaked havoc in the northern regions, causing significant flash flooding, while Tropical Storm Trami last month resulted in the deaths of 80 individuals and disrupted the lives of half a million residents.
