Tropical Storm Penha Ravages Southern Philippines, Leaving Trail of Destruction
A powerful tropical storm has unleashed catastrophic flooding and a fatal landslide across the southern Philippines, claiming at least four lives and forcing more than 6,000 people from their homes. Officials confirmed on Friday that Tropical Storm Penha made landfall late Thursday, wreaking havoc in vulnerable communities.
Deadly Landslide and Widespread Flooding Reported
The storm's torrential rains triggered a devastating landslide in a quarry area within Cagayan de Oro city, where a couple and two children perished when their makeshift home was buried. Regional Civil Defense Director Antonio Sugarol detailed the tragic incident, highlighting the immediate dangers posed by the extreme weather.
In nearby Iligan city, approximately 55 kilometers southwest, desperate residents were trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters. One woman urgently appealed for rescue via radio, stranded on the second floor of her house with three family members as water levels surged. Sugarol assured that emergency teams were en route, with ongoing rescues in the Mahayahay and Tubod villages.
Mass Evacuations and Transport Disruptions
The Office of Civil Defense reported that over 6,000 villagers have been displaced, with nearly 5,800 seeking refuge in evacuation centers across southern and central provinces. Classes have been suspended in numerous affected areas to ensure public safety.
Maritime operations have been severely impacted, with the Philippine Coast Guard stranding nearly 5,000 passengers and cargo workers at 94 seaports. Interisland ferries and cargo ships have been temporarily barred from sailing due to dangerously rough seas caused by the storm's expansive 660-kilometer rain and wind band.
Storm Path and Historical Context
Government forecaster Robert Badrina noted that Penha arrived unusually early, striking ahead of the typical summer season when storm activity is minimal in the Philippine archipelago. The storm, initially packing sustained winds of up to 55 kilometers per hour with gusts reaching 70 kph, was last tracked off central Bohol province.
The Philippine weather agency predicts Penha will weaken into a tropical depression as it moves northwestward across central island provinces toward Palawan. This event underscores the nation's vulnerability, as it faces around 20 typhoons and storms annually, compounded by frequent earthquakes and active volcanoes, ranking it among the world's most disaster-prone countries.
