Manila, Philippines

The Philippines on Tuesday (Nov 12) issued a fresh weather warning as the fifth major storm in merely a month threatened the archipelago, just days after Typhoon Toraji led to the evacuation of thousands.

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While Toraji caused relatively limited deaths and no reported deaths as per the national weather agency, Typhoon Toraji is gaining strength just two days away from the Philippines' largest and most populous island, Luzon.

Evacuations imminent?

So far, the government has not called for evacuations ahead of Typhoon Usagi's arrival.

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However, the weather agency warned that “Areas in northern Luzon are at risk of heavy rainfall, severe wind, and, possibly, storm surge inundation from (Usagi) which may cause considerable impacts”.

Also read | New storm Kong-rey bears down on Philippines after deadly Trami

In a weather bulletin, it added that Usagi has wind speed of 85 kilometres (52.82 miles) an hour and may hit the region late in the day. The storm will likely reach Typhoon category by Wednesday ahead of landfall.

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Coastal waters will be rough and "mariners of small seacraft… are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions", it added.

After Usagi, another storm, Tropical Storm Man-yi might also threaten the Philippines next week, it added. The tropical storm is currently near the Northern Mariana Islands.

Typhoon Toraji

While the government is yet to report any casualties from Typhoon Toraji, around 15,000 people are still sheltering at government-run evacuation centres.

The typhoon did not trigger any significant flooding, however, on Tuesday, utility workers, were fixing damaged bridges, restoring electricity and clearing road blockages caused by landslides, fallen trees etc, reported the civil defence office.

Also read | Typhoon Gaemi forces Taiwan to close schools, stock market after curtailed wargames

While the full extent of damage to private homes was not known, as per AFP , 29 towns and cities were still without power.

"A small number of people were preemptively evacuated but they have since returned home. Classes at the collegiate level have resumed," said civil defence official Randy Nicolas of Ilocos Norte province on Luzon's South China Sea coast while talking to the news agency.

(With inputs from agencies)