400,000 evacuated, three dead as new storm batters Philippines

Civil defence officials in southern Luzon’s Bicol region reported that three people were killed after walls collapsed and trees were uprooted by Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi, moving west-northwest at sustained speeds of 110 kilometres per hour.

In Masbate province, evacuees took cover under pews after the roof of a church used as a shelter was ripped apart by powerful winds. Several children sustained minor injuries requiring stitches, while widespread damage to homes left many families displaced.

Authorities estimate that around 400,000 people have been evacuated across affected areas. Roads were blocked by fallen trees and toppled power lines, hampering rescue efforts and slowing the delivery of aid. In the Visayas islands, residents were forced to navigate flooded streets on boats or wade through waist-deep waters.

The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every year, leaving millions vulnerable to recurring disasters. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful and destructive as global temperatures rise due to human-driven climate change.

Thousands remain displaced from Super Typhoon Ragasa, which struck the country’s far north earlier this week and killed at least nine people. The latest disaster has intensified public frustration over alleged corruption in flood-control projects that are believed to have cost taxpayers billions.