As the Philippines grapples with a severe weather crisis, Typhoon Toraji has made landfall, marking the fourth major storm to impact the nation in less than a month. The typhoon’s approach on 11 November 2024 prompted extensive evacuations, the shutdown of ports, and widespread disruptions across northern Luzon.
Mass Evacuations Underway
The government ordered the evacuation of 2,500 villages on 10 November, affecting thousands in the provinces of Aurora, Isabela, Ifugao, and the Mountain Province. While evacuations were underway, local officials reported that at least 8,000 people had been moved from coastal areas to safer locations.
Impact of Typhoon Toraji
- Wind Speeds: Typhoon Toraji brought maximum winds of 130 km/h upon hitting the northeast coast near Dilasag.
- Heavy Rainfall: The national weather agency predicted intense rainfall exceeding 200 mm in a 24-hour period.
- Storm Surge Risk: Authorities warned of a moderate to high risk of storm surges reaching heights of up to 3 m along the northern coast.
Local communities were informed to stay alert, with schools and government offices closed in preparation for the typhoon’s impact. Merwina Pableo, the civil defence chief of Dinalungan, noted reports of toppled trees and power outages as the storm struck.
Travel Disruptions
Nearly 700 passengers were stranded at ports in anticipation of the severe weather, with the coast guard reporting that sea travel was risky for all vessels. The agency reiterated safety warnings for mariners to remain in port until conditions improved.
Recent Storms and Future Threats
This latest typhoon follows a series of devastating cyclones that have cumulatively claimed 159 lives this month alone. Unfortunately, forecasts suggest that another tropical depression could impact the region as early as the night of 14 November, while Tropical Storm Man-yi poses a potential threat next week.
A concerning trend has emerged in the Asia-Pacific region, where a recent study indicated that storms are forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly and causing longer-lasting impacts on land, which highlights the pressing issue of climate change.