A fifth major storm in just three weeks is approaching the Philippines, causing significant concern and prompting largescale evacuations. Typhoon Usagi, with sustained winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 230 kph, is forecasted to strengthen further before making landfall in Cagayan province at the northern tip of Luzon, the country's most populous agricultural region.
Another storm is brewing in the Pacific and may hit the northern Philippines over the weekend, according to meteorologists. The country's weather agency has issued warnings of life-threatening tidal surges of up to three meters in coastal areas of Cagayan and surrounding provinces, urging all ships to seek shelter.
Typhoon Toraji recently caused significant damage in the region, forcing over 42,000 people to evacuate their homes. The government has been struggling to cope with the aftermath of the previous four major storms, which resulted in at least 160 fatalities, displaced millions, and caused extensive damage to farmland and infrastructure.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration has allocated over 1 billion pesos for food and aid for storm victims. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has sought assistance from neighboring countries and the United States to provide additional aircraft for transporting essential supplies to isolated villages.
The United Nations is mobilizing $32.9 million to support the government in providing aid to approximately 210,000 individuals in critical need, particularly vulnerable groups such as women, children, and people with disabilities. The U.N. team emphasized the unprecedented challenges posed by the current tropical cyclone season in the Philippines.
The Philippines, known for its vulnerability to natural disasters, faces around 20 typhoons and tropical storms annually, in addition to seismic activity and volcanic eruptions. The devastating impact of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 serves as a stark reminder of the country's susceptibility to catastrophic events.
