How severe is Typhoon Goni and how did the Philippines prepare?

At least 16 people were killed as Typhoon Goni pounded the Philippines Sunday, Nov 1. More than 300 houses were buried under volcanic rocks and mud flows from Mayon Volcano in severely hit Albay province in the Bicol region. This is the 18th typhoon to hit the country this year.

Meteorologists said that makes Goni one of the intense cyclones in history, and comparable in strength to Super Typhoon Haiyan, which killed more than 6,000 people when it battered the Philippines in 2013.

As reported by Indian Express, As per PAGASA, strong winds associated with the storm have damaged high-risk structures and have partially damaged houses made with “first-class” materials. In addition, while some banana plantations have suffered total damage, coconut plantations are expected to suffer extensive damage. Rice and corn plantations also may suffer severe losses.

President Rodrigo Duterte was monitoring the government’s disaster response from his southern hometown of Davao city

According to BBC, The Philippines is used to powerful storms, it is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons a year and lost 22 people when Typhoon Molave barrelled through the same region last week.

Around 347,000 people were evacuated, civil defence chief Ricardo Jalad said revising down the one million figure he mentioned ahead of the storm.

Dozens of flights were canceled as Manila’s main gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, was ordered shut for one day. Also, Coronavirus patients being treated in isolation tents had been evacuated