The super typhoon Man-yi arrived today from Philippinesleaving behind uprooted trees, damaged power lines and roofs, but no casualties in the archipelago which has been hit by six major storms in the space of a month.

Mangyi was packing winds of 185 kilometers per hour when it made landfall in the western province of Catanduanes last Saturday night. The Philippine Meteorological Service reported wind gusts of up to 325 kilometers per hour.

More than 650,000 people were forced to leave their homes as the super typhoon approached, which the meteorologist had described as “potentially destructive and deadly”.

Waves up to 14 meters high were observed in its coastal areas Catantuanswhile tidal waves up to 3 meters high may occur at Manila and other vulnerable coastal areas in the next 48 hours, the weather service said yesterday.

“No casualties were reported, perhaps because people followed evacuation orders,” said Mr Roberto Monterola rescue service official in the province of Catanduanes.

“In all the cities there is damage, but those in the north face the most problems,” he added.

Photos posted on Facebook by its mayor Panganibano Cesar Roblesshow downed power lines, damaged homes, trees and roofs blocking roads.

The situation “is still a bit dangerous, there are still gusts of wind and there is a lot of debris,” Robles said in a message, stressing that he had never experienced a typhoon “so strong”.

Mangy was the sixth typhoon to hit the Philippines in less than a month. From the previous ones, at least 163 people lost their lives, thousands were left homeless, while crops and livestock were destroyed.

Mangyi is expected to “diminish slightly” and become a typhoon before it makes landfall in Luzon, the Philippines’ most populous island and home to Manila, this afternoon and heads into the South China Sea tomorrow.

Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the intensity of storms, causing heavier rainfall, flash floods and stronger wind gusts.

Every year about 20 strong storms and typhoons hit the Philippines, but it is rare that these phenomena occur in a short period of time.

At the beginning of the month, four storms formed simultaneously in the Pacific. The Japan Meteorological Agency said on Saturday that it was the first time since records were kept in 1951 that such a phenomenon had been observed during November.