Status: December 17, 2021 10:33 a.m.
At least five people were killed in the Philippines as a result of a tropical storm. Hundreds of thousands had to flee, whole areas were devastated. In the meantime the storm has weakened somewhat.
A typhoon wreaked havoc in the Philippines and displaced more than 300,000 people. At least five people were killed, according to the authorities.
The tropical storm “Rai” triggered floods, flash floods and landslides, covered numerous roofs and tore trees and electricity pylons out of the ground, the civil protection agency said. In the meantime, many people sought refuge in emergency shelters.
Storm weakened slightly
In Iloilo City, around 460 kilometers south of the capital Manila, a woman died when she was hit by a falling tree. “Many houses have been destroyed and we are still checking to see if there are any more victims,” said the city’s mayor, Jerry Trenas. The situation is difficult because the power has failed. “I’ve never seen such violence in my life and we haven’t even been hit directly,” said Trenas.
There were other deaths in the provinces of Bukidnon and Guimaras and in Surigao City. Details were not initially known. Meanwhile, the typhoon moved slightly weakened, but still with wind gusts of up to 215 kilometers per hour across the country. The storm moved west and is expected to leave the Philippines on Saturday, according to the national weather service.
Numerous domestic flights had to be canceled as a result of the typhoon and shipping traffic ceased. Several airports in the country are said to have sustained severe damage. “Rai” hit land for the first time on Thursday afternoon (local time). Southern and eastern regions of the island state were particularly hard hit.
About 20 typhoons a year
The storm hit the Philippines at the end of the typhoon season. Most violent cyclones develop between July and October. The Southeast Asian island nation is hit by an average of around 20 typhoons every year.
Due to climate change and the resulting rise in sea temperatures, hurricanes are increasing in number and intensity. The worst typhoon so far, “Haiyan”, killed more than 6,300 people in November 2013. More than four million people had to flee.
Typhoon over the Philippines: Hundreds of thousands had fled
Lena Bodewein, ARD Singapore, December 17, 2021 9:47 am