Tropical Storm Fengshen kills 8, forces mass evacuations in Philippines

Tropical Storm Fengshen battered the northern and central Philippines on Sunday, resulting in multiple casualties and large-scale displacement. According to local authorities, the severe weather event has claimed at least eight lives and compelled the evacuation of approximately 22,000 residents from vulnerable areas.

Casualties and emergency response

Civil Defense spokesperson Junie Castillo confirmed that five individuals died when a tree fell in Pitogo municipality within Quezon province. Three additional fatalities occurred in the Western Visayas region. Search and rescue operations continue for two people reported missing following a landslide in Bukidnon province's Quezon municipality, while three individuals sustained injuries nationwide.

Storm impact and government measures

The tropical system, locally named "Ramil," reached sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour as it passed over Manila Bay. Philippine authorities declared states of emergency in several affected regions, implementing precautionary measures that included suspending school activities and canceling numerous flights. The storm triggered significant flooding and multiple landslides across central and southern provinces.

Displacement and regional vulnerability

Official reports indicate the storm has affected approximately 15,000 families nationwide, equivalent to roughly 30,000 people. The Philippines experiences frequent tropical cyclones, with an average of twenty typhoons making landfall annually. Meteorological forecasts project Fengshen will exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday morning.