Philippines reports death toll from typhoon Bualoi
On September 26, Philippine officials said the death toll from Typhoon Bualoi (or Typhoon No. 10 in Vietnam) sweeping through the central and southern parts of the country's main island of Luzon has risen to 10, while the northern region is still dealing with the consequences of super typhoon Rasaga.
Typhoon Bualoi made landfall in the central Philippine province of Eastern Samar before hitting Masbate province and sweeping across the Bicol region in southern Luzon. Disaster officials said three people were killed in Masbate province and seven in the central region.
Masbate Governor Antonio Kho called on the central government for urgent assistance at a press conference, saying the province needed to quickly clear debris, restore power and reopen ports to receive relief supplies.
In other areas of southern Luzon, heavy rains and strong winds caused widespread power outages and damaged crops and infrastructure.
Ahead of Bualoi's landfall, offices and schools across the Philippines, including Metro Manila, were ordered to temporarily close. Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated to safety. Bualoi is expected to leave the Philippines' watch area by the afternoon of September 27.
This is the second typhoon to hit the Philippines in just a few days. Previously, Super Typhoon Ragasa caused heavy damage in the northern part of the country, killing 14 people before devastating Taiwan (China), killing at least 15 people.
The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 typhoons and tropical depressions each year, plunging millions of people in disaster-prone areas into chronic poverty. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful due to global warming caused by human-caused climate change.
