2-9-2024 (MANILA) The Philippines has been grappling with the devastating effects of Tropical Storm Yagi for a second consecutive day, as heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding and landslides across the archipelago. The storm, which made its presence felt on Monday, 2 September, has already claimed at least four lives, including that of a nine-month-old infant, according to official reports.
The eastern city of Naga bore the brunt of the storm’s fury as it skirted the coastline overnight on Sunday. Local authorities reported two fatalities in the area, with the infant tragically succumbing to rising floodwaters. Joshua Tuazon, an official from the city’s public safety office, described the dire situation to AFP, stating, “The floods were above head height in some areas.” He further revealed that hundreds of residents had to be rescued from the deluge.
The aftermath of the storm has left more than 300 individuals seeking refuge in evacuation centres. Local officials noted that the floodwaters in Naga, a city of 210,000 residents, were receding at a sluggish pace due to high tides, prolonging the ordeal for many.
The central city of Cebu also reported casualties, with two lives lost in separate landslides on Sunday. These incidents also resulted in damage to five houses, as confirmed by the local disaster office.
As of Monday morning, Tropical Storm Yagi was charting a northward course off the coast of Luzon, the country’s main island. The state weather service reported that the storm was maintaining sustained winds of 75 kilometres per hour. Forecasts indicated that Yagi was expected to make landfall in the northern province of Isabela later in the day, with four towns and approximately 33,000 people directly in its projected path.
In response to the imminent threat, storm warnings were issued across a vast expanse of Luzon, including the bustling metropolis of Manila. As a precautionary measure, educational institutions at all levels and most government offices in the capital region suspended operations for the day.
The storm’s impact extended to the country’s transportation networks as well. Maritime authorities temporarily halted sea travel in several affected ports, leaving about 2,400 ferry passengers and cargo workers stranded. The aviation sector also felt the storm’s effects, with more than two dozen domestic flights suspended due to the inclement weather.
As Tropical Storm Yagi, locally known as Enteng, continued its trajectory, the weather bureau warned of potential flash floods and landslides in the mountainous provinces of Luzon. The storm was observed moving northwestward at 10 kilometres per hour along the eastern coast of the region.
????????????????????????????: Umabot sa 40 residente ang inilikas ng mga @coastguardph rescuer kasunod na pagbaha dulot ng Bagyong #EntengPH sa Barangay Aniban, Bacoor, Cavite, kaninang madaling araw, ika-02 ng Setyembre 2024.
✍️https://t.co/hLWHPbrqHl#DOTrPH????????#CoastGuardPH pic.twitter.com/N6AyM2ncKS
— Philippine Coast Guard (@coastguardph) September 2, 2024
In Manila’s eastern outskirts, along the densely populated banks of the Marikina River, authorities sounded a siren early Monday morning. This alarm served as a warning for thousands of residents to prepare for possible evacuation should the river continue to swell and overflow due to the heavy rainfall.
The Philippine Coast Guard reported a successful evacuation operation in Northern Samar province, where 40 villagers were rescued from waist-high floods in two villages on Sunday.
This latest meteorological crisis underscores the Philippines’ vulnerability to natural disasters. The country, situated along the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, typically endures about 20 typhoons and storms annually. This geographical position also exposes the nation to frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, making it one of the most disaster-prone countries globally.
The current situation evokes memories of the catastrophic Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded. That disaster left over 7,300 people dead or missing, decimated entire communities, and displaced more than 5 million individuals in the central Philippines.
