Remembering Milenyo's wrath in 2006

MANILA, Philippines - Nearly eight years ago, typhoon "Milenyo (international name Xangsane)" struck the Philippines, bringing with it strong winds and rains.

Typhoon Glenda is expected to directly hit Metro Manila, drawing comparisons with Milenyo.

Glenda, according to the latest report by the state weather bureau PAGASA, is packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

PAGASA placed Metro Manila under signal no.2  as Glenda is estimated  to hit the capital on Wednesday morning. 

Milenyo's wrath

But how bad was "Milenyo" in 2006?

A report by Relief Web, a "specialized digital service of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs", said the typhoon packed average wind speeds of up to 185 kilometers.

The report added that initial estimates found that at least 43,061 families were affected according to the various chapters of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

The typhoon first hit the Eastern Samar region on September 30, 2006, then gained strength as it reached the Bicol region.

Metro Manila was not spared, when the typhoon reached it the following day.

When the typhoon left the Philippines, then National Disaster Coordinating Council (now called the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council), reported that 184 died, 536 were injured, and 47 persons were missing.

A report also claimed that at least 1.2 million people were affected by the typhoon, particularly from poor rural areas.

Damage was extensive with 117,429 houses totally destroyed, and 378,896 houses partially destroyed. Damage to properties was estimated at P5.9 billion.

Typhoon season

A previous report by the National Statistical Coordination Board said July is the "favorite month of tropical cyclones to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)."

"Historically, from 1948 to 2009, July is the favorite month of tropical cyclones to enter the PAR, with 204 TC (tropical cyclones) of which 96  were typhoons (TY), followed by August (193 TC; 88 TY), September (185 TC; 95 TY), October (157 TC; 96 TY), and November (131 TC; 70 TY)," the NSCB added.

The same report found that the Philippines experienced the highest number of tropical cyclones in 1993  with 32, while the least number occurred in 1998 with 11.