For the fourth time in a month, the Philippines has been hit by a tropical cyclone. According to the weather service, thousands had to flee from Typhoon Toraji on Monday, which hit the island nation near Dilasag, about 220 kilometers northeast of the capital Manila.
The weather service warned of strong winds, heavy rain, and an impending storm surge in the country’s north. “Trees are falling, and the power has been out since yesterday,” reported the head of civil defence in the town of Dinalungan, not far from Dilasag.
According to rescue workers, around 7,000 people were evacuated to safety from the coast and from areas at risk of flooding and landslides in the provinces of Aurora and Isabela. Aurora and Isabela were first affected by the typhoon “Toraji,” which then moved further into the mountainous interior of the main Philippine island of Luzon.
2500 villages evacuatedThe government had ordered the evacuation of 2500 villages as a precautionary measure. According to the authorities, fallen trees and electricity pylons blocked several major roads. Schools and government offices were also closed in severely affected areas.
Tropical storms “Trami”, “Kong-rey” and “Yinxing” have already hit the Philippines in the past four weeks. A total of 159 people died as a result and there was massive destruction.
Climate change worsens the situation after “Toraji.” The next tropical depression could reach the region as early as Thursday, meteorologist Veronica Torres told the AFP news agency. This could be followed next week by tropical storm “Man-yi,” which is still located east of Guam in the Pacific.
Storms often occur in the region at this time of year. Climate change contributes to these storms forming closer and closer to the coasts, increasing in strength more quickly and staying over land for longer.
- source: krone.at/picture: Tropical storm battering Philippines leaves 23 people dead in flooding, landslips – The Hindu
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