Philippines reports death toll from Typhoon Bualoi
On September 26, Philippine officials announced that the death toll from Typhoon Bualoi (Typhoon No. 10 in Vietnam), which swept through central and southern parts of the main island of Luzon, had risen to 10, while the northern region was still recovering from the aftermath of Super Typhoon Rasaga.
Typhoon Bualoi made landfall in Eastern Samar province, central Philippines, before moving into Masbate province and sweeping through the Bicol region in southern Luzon. Disaster response officials said that among the fatalities caused by the typhoon, three were in Masbate province and seven in the central region.
In a press conference, Masbate province governor Antonio Kho appealed to the central government for urgent assistance. He said the province needed to quickly clear the debris, restore electricity, and reopen seaports to receive aid.
In other areas of southern Luzon, heavy rains and strong winds caused widespread power outages, as well as damaging crops and infrastructure.
Before Typhoon Bualoi made landfall, offices and schools across the Philippines, including the Manila metropolitan area, were ordered to temporarily close. Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated to safety. Typhoon Bualoi was expected to leave the Philippines' monitoring zone on the afternoon of September 27.
This is the second typhoon to hit the Philippines in just a few days. Previously, Super Typhoon Ragasa caused extensive damage in the northern part of the country, killing 14 people before devastating Taiwan (China), killing at least 15.
The Philippines experiences an average of 20 typhoons and tropical depressions each year, plunging millions in disaster-prone areas into perpetual poverty. Scientists warn that these storms are becoming stronger due to global warming caused by human-induced climate change.
