The Philippines is once again grappling with the destructive force of a typhoon, as Typhoon Toraji struck the nation on Monday.
The latest in a series of cyclones, Toraji hit near Dilasag, located around 220 kilometers northeast of the capital, Manila, causing widespread damage and disruption.
This marks the fourth cyclone to hit the disaster-prone country in less than a month, underscoring the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events in the region.
The typhoon brought strong winds, heavy rains, and widespread flooding.
Merwina Pableo, a local civil defense official, reported that trees were uprooted, power was knocked out, and several coastal communities were evacuated.
More than 8,000 people were moved to safer locations across provinces including Aurora and Isabela, while some 2,500 villages were ordered to evacuate in preparation for the storm’s landfall.
Climate change intensifies storms in the Philippines, leaving communities vulnerable to increasing cyclones.As Toraji weakened after moving through the mountainous areas of Luzon, it continued its path toward the provinces of Abra and Ilocos Sur.
The heavy rain caused landslides, blocking key roads and leaving passengers stranded, including 156 people aboard a ferry that ran aground in rough seas.
Despite the challenges, there were no reported fatalities as of Monday.
The storm’s impact was felt beyond just the winds and rain.
The Philippines’ coast guard confirmed nearly 700 passengers were left stranded at ports, and sea travel was warned to be hazardous due to the storm surge risk.
Schools and government offices in affected regions were closed as a precautionary measure.
Typhoon Toraji’s arrival follows a tragic series of storms in the past month, which claimed at least 159 lives.
Experts warn that the intensity and frequency of such storms are exacerbated by climate change, with cyclones now forming closer to shore and intensifying more rapidly.
The people of the Philippines continue to show resilience in the face of these recurring natural disasters, but the growing threat posed by climate change looms large.