Super typhoon Megi has swept through key agricultural areas, in the northern Philippines. Local authorities, say the preliminary damage, may have already, significantly reduced, the country's rice output for this harvest season.

The provinces of Isabela and Cagayan are among the Philippines' biggest rice producing provinces. They are just in the center of the eye of storm.

Benito Ramos, Disaster Council Exeutive Director, said, "The province of Isabela has already declared a state of emergency, Cagayan to follow."

Local officials say initial reports showed that Megi inundated several farmlands, destroying rice crops that were about to be harvested and may cause widespread hunger in the two provinces.

Rice Farmer, said, "My crops might be damaged if the storm hits hard, just as they're starting to grow."

The cyclone also knocked out communications and power lines as residents took shelter on Monday.

Thousands of military reserve officers and volunteers are on standby, along with helicopters and other machines to provide possible aid.

Ships and fishing vessels were told to stay in ports, and several domestic and international flights were cancelled.

The storm appeared to be weakening while crossing the mountains of the north Philippines later on Monday.

The capital Manila was expected to avoid any direct hit, though schools were closed.

In July, the head of the weather bureau was fired for failing to predict that a typhoon would hit Manila. That storm killed more than 100 people in Manila and outlying provinces.

This time, authorities sounded the alarm early and ordered evacuations and the positioning of emergency relief and food supplies days before the typhoon hit.

Megi packed sustained winds of 225 kilometers per hour as it made landfall on Isabela province Monday. Experts have described it as the most powerful typhoon to hit the Philippines in four years.

Go to Forum >>0 Comments