Manila : Following the devastating the Goni typhoon which hit the Philippines, the country is bracing another severe tropical storm in Batanes, an island province at the northernmost tip. However, the storm, Atsani, brought no casualty and damages so far even though the province witnesses strong winds and heavy rains, according to Batanes' Governor Marilou Cayco.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has forecasted the storm, locally named Siony, will move over to the southern coast of Taiwan within 12 hours. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Friday night. The storm sustained maximum winds of 95 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h, moving West Northwestward at the speed of 20 km/h, as reported by PAGASA.
Storm Atsani is the 19th tropical cyclone the country has experienced this year. Typhoon Goni has affected more than 2 million people and killed at least 20 people.
The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire makes the country vulnerable to active volcanoes, frequent earthquakes and typhoons at an average number of 20 per year leading to floods and landslides.