A powerful storm has swept away from the northern Philippines, having caused the deaths of 14 individuals due to landslides and flooding.
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- PH Chronicle Team
- September 2, 2024
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- 3 minutes read
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A powerful storm exited the northern Philippines on Tuesday, leaving at least 14 fatalities due to landslides, flooding, and swollen rivers, according to disaster-response officials. Tropical Storm Yagi moved past Paoay in Ilocos Norte province and into the South China Sea, with sustained winds reaching 75 kilometers (47 miles) per hour and gusts up to 125 kph (78 mph), as reported by the weather bureau. It is expected to intensify into a typhoon as it heads northwest over the sea toward southern China.
Storm warnings remain in effect for many northern provinces of the Philippines, where residents have been cautioned about the ongoing risk of landslides in rain-soaked mountainous areas and flooding in the agricultural lowlands of Luzon, the nation’s most populated region. Locally known as Enteng, Yagi has intensified seasonal monsoon rains, leading to heavy downpours across Luzon, including the densely populated metropolitan Manila, where classes and government activities were suspended on Tuesday.
At least 14 individuals lost their lives due to landslides, floods, and swollen rivers in northern and central provinces. This includes casualties in Antipolo, a well-known Roman Catholic pilgrimage site and tourism hotspot west of Manila, where at least three people—one of whom was pregnant—were killed in a hillside landslide that engulfed makeshift homes. Additionally, four others drowned in creeks and rivers, as reported by Antipolo’s disaster-mitigation officer Enrilito Bernardo Jr. via telephone to The Associated Press. Four more residents are still unaccounted for after their home was swept away by the floodwaters, Bernardo added.
On Monday, thousands of travelers were left stranded as sea travel was temporarily suspended at various ports and 34 domestic flights were canceled due to inclement weather. A training ship named M/V Kamilla, anchored in Manila Bay near Navotas port, was struck by another vessel that lost control amid rough seas. The collision damaged Kamilla’s bridge and led to a fire aboard the ship, prompting its 18 cadets and crew members to evacuate. According to the Philippine Coast Guard, a passing tugboat rescued 17 of those who abandoned ship, while one individual swam to safety.
The Philippines faces an average of about 20 typhoons and storms each year. Located in the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” a region known for frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes along the Pacific Ocean’s edge, this Southeast Asian nation is among the most disaster-prone areas in the world.