Goni makes a historically strong landfall in the Philippines
At 20:50 UTC on October 31 (4:50 PHT on November 1), Goni (known as Rolly in the Philippines) broke the record for the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone anywhere in the world with its landfall on Catanduanes Island with sustained wind speeds of 195 mph (315 kph), and a minimum barometric pressure of 878 millibars. Goni then made three additional landfalls as it tracked westward across the Philippines, devastating the Bicol region. 18 hours after first making landfall, Goni entered the South China Sea just south of Metro Manila as a Tropical Storm.
The Office of Civil Defense in Bicol has confirmed the deaths of ten civilians, all of which were in the Albay region. Conditions from Goni triggered lahar flows and mudslides that buried at least 180 houses in Guinobatan and destroyed the Basud Bridge, as well as burying vehicles, livestock, and potentially civilians. Several villages were inundated from flooding and over ten feet of storm surge. Search and rescue teams have been unable to respond to areas on Catanduanes Island, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines reported a loss of contact with Virac Airport, the only airport located on the island. Over 390,000 citizens have been displaced by Goni across the Bicol region.
Metro Manila, which was forecast to receive Category 2-3 hurricane-equivalent conditions, only received tropical storm conditions as Goni passed just south of the capital city. Flooding in nearby Batangas City was reported to have reached the roofs of houses.
As of 3:00 UTC (11:00 PHT) on November 2, Tropical Storm Goni is located at 14.5°N, 118.0°E with maximum sustained wind speeds of 40mph, with a minimum barometric pressure of 1004 millibars, moving west at 13 mph. Goni is expected to maintain its intensity while continuing to move westwards towards central Vietnam, affecting the country on Wednesday and Thursday while dissipating to a remnant low.
Following behind Goni, Tropical Depression Atsani (known as Siony in the Philippines) is expected to stall northeast of the Philippines, and could possibly impact northern Luzon as a typhoon later this week.
