Heavy monsoon rains, worsened by an offshore typhoon, have caused devastating flooding and landslides in the Philippines, leading to at least eight deaths and displacing over 600,000 people.
Typhoon Gaemi, known locally as Carina, along with a previous storm, didn’t make landfall but significantly intensified the rains over the past five days. This led to numerous landslides and floods, which have killed eight people and displaced more than 600,000, including 35,000 who have sought refuge in emergency shelters, according to the Philippines’ disaster risk mitigation agency.
In the densely populated areas around Manila, government operations and school classes were suspended on Wednesday due to flooding that trapped cars and stranded residents. Those venturing out navigated knee- and waist-deep floodwaters, with some using makeshift boats to move alongside stranded vehicles.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged all relevant agencies to provide prompt assistance to those affected by Typhoon Carina and the intensified southwest monsoon.
The coast guard reported that over 350 passengers and cargo truck drivers were stranded at seaports after ferries and cargo ships were barred from operating in rough seas. Additionally, more than 200 people were evacuated from a coastal village in Batangas province, south of Manila, where storm waves damaged coastal homes.
By Wednesday morning, the typhoon was located east of Taiwan, with winds reaching 100 mph. The approaching storm led to the cancellation of air force drills off Taiwan’s east coast on Tuesday and disrupted ferries and some domestic flights.
