Philippines braces for typhoon Co-May impact

July 24, 2025 / 10:26 PM

Sharjah 24 – WAM: The Philippines shut down schools and cancelled flights Thursday as typhoon-driven rains battered the northern island of Luzon. President Ferdinand Marcos described the worsening weather conditions as part of “the new normal.”

Deadly rains and strengthening storm

Typhoon Co-May, upgraded from a tropical storm overnight, follows several days of intense monsoon rains that have killed at least 19 people and left 11 missing since July 18, according to the national disaster agency.

Storm forecast and landfall

With maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), Co-May is expected to make landfall on Luzon’s west coast, likely between La Union and Ilocos Sur provinces, by Friday morning, according to the country’s weather bureau.

Marcos urges adaptation to climate change

President Marcos emphasised the growing impact of climate change, stating that Filipinos must prepare to adapt to changing climate patterns, calling this extreme weather “the new normal.”

Travel disruptions and school closures

Around 70 domestic and international flights were cancelled on Thursday due to severe weather, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. The government also suspended all classes across Luzon through Friday.

Evacuations amid rising floodwaters

Earlier in the week, tens of thousands of people were evacuated across Manila due to widespread flooding. Some neighborhoods were submerged in waist-deep water, while residents in nearby provinces required rescue by boat.