Tropical storm increases Philippines’ weather toll with 25 dead, 278,000 evacuated this week

Tropical storm increases Philippines’ weather toll with 25 dead, 278,000 evacuated this week
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Tropical Storm Co-may, known locally as Emong, struck the northern Philippines on Thursday night, worsening a week of severe weather that has caused at least 25 deaths and forced 278,000 people to evacuate, Arab News reported. The storm made landfall in Agno, Pangasinan province, with sustained winds of 120 kph (74 mph) and gusts up to 165 kph (102 mph). By Friday morning, Co-may weakened to 100 kph (62 mph) as it moved northeast.

The heavy rains, intensified by Co-may, have led to flash floods, landslides, toppled trees, and electrocutions. Eight people remain missing. This is the fifth weather disturbance to hit the country since the rainy season began last month, with more storms expected throughout the year.

At least 77 towns and cities, mostly in Luzon, have declared a state of calamity, enabling faster emergency funding and price freezes on essential goods like rice. Schools in metropolitan Manila and 35 northern provinces have suspended classes.

Nearly 3,000 homes have been damaged. Travel by sea and air is restricted in affected areas. Thousands of military, police, coast guard, and volunteers are engaged in rescue operations.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited emergency shelters and emphasized the need to adapt to climate change, saying, “The storm will really come.” The US pledged military aircraft support for aid delivery if needed.

The Philippines faces about 20 typhoons annually and is highly vulnerable to natural disasters due to its location between the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea.