Philippines Cancels Classes and Flights as New Storm Approaches

The Philippines suspended schools and cancelled flights on Thursday as a fresh storm, just days after a super typhoon killed nine people, threatened to strike the archipelago.

Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi is forecast to intensify into a typhoon on Friday, expected to hit the southern end of Luzon, the country’s largest island.

“Widespread flooding and landslides in mountainous areas are possible,” said Benison Estareja from the nation’s weather service during a briefing.

The Philippines typically experiences around 20 storms and typhoons annually, leaving millions of residents in disaster-prone regions living in constant vulnerability. Scientists warn that storms are intensifying as global temperatures rise due to human-driven climate change.

Authorities issued warnings of a “high risk of life-threatening storm surge” of up to three metres (10 feet) with the incoming storm.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported that approximately 1,500 people were stranded at ports in Bicol, the region projected to bear the brunt of the typhoon.

Thousands remain displaced following Super Typhoon Ragasa, which swept across the northern Philippines, killing at least nine people.

The weather bureau also warned that the outer bands of Bualoi could bring heavy rains to the northern Philippines.

“These rains are continuous and may cause renewed flooding and landslides, especially in areas that are already saturated,” said Civil Defence Administrator Harold Cabreros late on Wednesday.

Impact of Super Typhoon Ragasa

• Seven fishermen died in Cagayan Province when their boat capsized in high waves.
• One fatality occurred due to a toppled tree.
• A typhoon-triggered landslide in Benguet, a mountainous province north of Manila, killed a 74-year-old man and injured at least seven others.

Government Response

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos pledged on Wednesday that food, medicine, and other aid were ready for deployment to areas projected to be affected by Bualoi.

The storms arrive amid public anger over a scandal invlving bogus flood-control projects, reportedly costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

Key Storm Details

Authorities continue to monitor rainfall, flooding, and landslide risks as the country braces for another potentially deadly storm.