The northern Philippines is grappling with severe weather as Typhoon Toraji sweeps westward over Luzon.
With winds at category 1 hurricane strength, Toraji marks the fourth cyclone in three weeks, following Trami, Kong-rey, and Yinxing.
Combined, these cyclones have left a tragic toll, with 159 deaths and more than 700,000 people forced to flee their homes.
The recurrence of these storms has slowed recovery efforts, with heavy rainfall over already saturated ground and swollen rivers raising the risk of landslides and floods.
Authorities have evacuated around 2,500 villages, and water is being released from dams to reduce flood risks.
Cyclone activity is common in the Philippines, which averages about 20 cyclones annually, yet the frequency of landfall in this specific area over such a short period is rare.
With more heavy rain expected, residents are on alert as the potential for landslides and flooding rises daily.
Australia braces for record heatwave; storms in Queensland and New South Wales add risks.Adding to the concern, a new tropical depression formed over the weekend, with early forecasts suggesting it may develop into Typhoon Usagi and possibly hit northern Philippines later this week.
Meanwhile, Australia is battling its extreme weather, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing heatwave warnings in the Northern Territory, Central Queensland, and parts of Western Australia.
Temperatures across these regions are expected to exceed 40°C, about 5–10°C above seasonal averages, with inland areas seeing minimal overnight cooling.
Thunderstorms are also forecast in eastern Queensland and New South Wales, posing risks of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and hail.
Over the weekend, Brisbane’s eastern suburb recorded a staggering 70mm of rain in just an hour. With more storms expected, Australia is bracing for varied and intense weather challenges in the days to come.