Torrential rains have triggered two landslides that killed seven people and caused floods that displaced more than 3,000 villagers in the southeastern Philippines.
By Nathan Morley
Torrential rains have triggered two landslides that killed seven people and caused floods that displaced more than 3,000 villagers in the southeastern Philippines.
The storm made landfall late Thursday in Surigao del Sur province before moving west across the central islands.
By Friday noon, it had sustained winds of up to 55 kph and gusts reaching 70 kph.
Nearly 10,000 people have been affected by the downpours in recent days, including more than 3,200 who moved to emergency shelters or stayed with relatives.
The rains and thunderstorms struck well ahead of the typhoon season, which typically begins in June, and were caused by cold winds interacting with warm, moist air from the Pacific, according to weather officials.
The Philippines is hit by about 20 typhoons and storms each year and lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common, making it one of the world’s most disaster‑prone countries.
The storm also caused widespread transport disruptions.
The Philippine Coast Guard said nearly 5,000 passengers and cargo workers were stranded in 94 seaports after inter‑island ferry and cargo services were suspended due to rough seas.
Dozens of domestic flights were cancelled, leaving thousands of travellers stuck at airports.
Forecasters said the storm was expected to weaken into a tropical depression later Friday as it moved northwest across the central islands, though heavy rain could continue to pose flood risks.
