The Philippines gets hit by the world’s strongest storm this year

Citizens in the Philippines are bracing themselves for what is said to be the strongest storm this year. Super Typhoon Haiyan is surging toward the central Philippines with winds of 190mph, and gusts of up to 230 mph. It is expected to make landfall Friday morning around Eastern Visayas. Authorities have been working diligently on evacuation plans, and by the end of the day Thursday, 3,800 people should be in evacuation shelters.

President Benigno S. Aquino III gave a speech on Thursday, telling the country’s citizens about the severity of the storm. He warned of the “calamity our countrymen will face in these coming days.” “Let me repeat myself: This is a very real danger, and we can mitigate and lessen its effects if we use the information available to prepare,” he said.

The super storm is extremely large at upwards of 500 miles wide, meaning that millions of people all across the country will be impacted. Many schools have been closed, and flights canceled, but authorities have tried to prepare areas as best they can with supplies and emergency response teams.