The Philippines ordered widespread evacuations on Wednesday (Nov 13), as Typhoon Usagi bore down on the northeast province of Cagayan. Usagi is the fifth major storm to strike the island nation in three weeks, putting additional strain on already-exhausted government resources and displaced communities. The storm’s imminent arrival has raised urgent concerns about further devastation, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) calling for $32.9 million in aid to support ongoing relief and recovery efforts.
The national weather service, PAGASA, warned that Typhoon Usagi is likely to make landfall in Cagayan on Thursday. Residents in vulnerable coastal and flood-prone areas are being evacuated, with orders for local officials to enforce evacuations by force if necessary.
In anticipation of the storm, Cagayan provincial civil defense chief Rueli Rapsing confirmed that local officials, including mayors, have been instructed to implement forced evacuations in high-risk zones. “Under emergency protocols, all mayors must implement forced evacuation, especially for susceptible areas,” Rapsing told local media, noting that approximately 40,000 residents reside in zones most vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and storm surges.
Local authorities have set up evacuation centers across the province, providing shelter, food, and basic medical supplies. The government is particularly concerned about those still displaced from previous storms, many of whom have yet to rebuild their homes due to back-to-back weather events that have strained the country’s resources.
As Typhoon Usagi nears, the Philippines is still grappling with the impact of previous storms that have killed over 150 people in recent weeks. On Tuesday, the UN announced an emergency appeal for $32.9 million in humanitarian aid to address the urgent needs of roughly 210,000 people affected by ongoing severe flooding and widespread damage. The UN Philippines Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Gustavo Gonzalez, stressed the urgency of the situation, stating that the country’s capacity to respond has been pushed to its limits by the frequency and intensity of recent storms.
“Typhoons are overlapping. As soon as communities attempt to recover from the shock, the next tropical storm is already hitting them again,” said Gonzalez. “In this context, the response capacity gets exhausted and budgets are depleted.”
The appeal aims to cover essential needs such as food, shelter, water, sanitation, and protective services for the next three months. Gonzalez called on international “resource partners” to step in to “fill critical funding gaps” to ensure that both national and local government agencies have the resources needed to respond effectively.
The Philippines, an archipelago with over 7,600 islands, is hit by about 20 major storms and typhoons annually, making it one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. The recent storm surge has had devastating impacts on local communities, contributing to infrastructure damage, agricultural losses, and a spike in displacement. According to the civil defense office, over 28,000 people displaced by previous storms are currently living in government-run evacuation centers, many of which are operating at full capacity.
For families that rely on farming and fishing—sectors particularly vulnerable to storms and floods—the cumulative effect of these recent typhoons is especially harsh. The Philippines, already grappling with high poverty rates in some regions, faces the prospect of worsening economic conditions as natural disasters deplete household savings and stall income-generating activities. The relentless storms have also disrupted schooling and healthcare services, further straining communities already stretched thin by economic hardship.
As evacuations continue, government crews are working around the clock to repair critical infrastructure damaged by previous storms. Electrical and telecommunications lines remain down in several regions, and roads blocked by debris have hindered both evacuation efforts and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Local government units, with assistance from the armed forces, have been deployed to expedite the restoration of services, but progress has been slowed by the scale of destruction and the need for additional resources.
Despite these challenges, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reiterated the government’s commitment to providing emergency support. In a statement on Wednesday, the President acknowledged the logistical difficulties, but expressed confidence in the resilience of the Filipino people and the government’s ability to respond. “The Filipino spirit remains strong in the face of adversity,” he said. “We will overcome this together.”
As of Wednesday morning, PAGASA reported that Typhoon Usagi was packing sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (km/h) near its center, with gusts of up to 150 km/h. Usagi is forecasted to bring heavy rain, severe winds, and rough seas to much of northern Luzon, particularly the coastal areas of Cagayan and neighboring provinces. PAGASA has issued storm signal warnings across the region, cautioning residents to prepare for flash floods, landslides, and storm surges in low-lying areas.
Typhoon Usagi is expected to intensify slightly before it makes landfall, a development that adds to the urgency of evacuation efforts. PAGASA meteorologists have warned that the storm’s impact will likely extend across a broad area, potentially causing widespread damage to crops, property, and infrastructure.
As global temperatures rise, scientists have noted an increase in the frequency and severity of tropical storms in the Asia-Pacific region. Recent studies indicate that typhoons are forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly, and lasting longer over land, which exacerbates their destructive potential. The Philippines, situated along the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, is particularly vulnerable to these changing weather patterns, facing higher risks of prolonged storms and more extreme weather events.
According to a recent report by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the warming of ocean temperatures contributes significantly to the intensification of storms, as warmer waters fuel stronger winds and increased rainfall. This phenomenon, coupled with the Philippines’ geography, places the nation in a high-risk category for extreme weather-related damage.
For the Philippines, the compounded impacts of climate change are not only environmental but also socioeconomic. The country’s economy, which relies heavily on agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, suffers disproportionately from the effects of storms and extreme weather events, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable disaster resilience strategies and international support.
Even as Typhoon Usagi approaches, another storm, Tropical Storm Man-yi, is currently forming near Guam and is forecasted to reach the Philippines by the weekend. This sixth potential storm adds another layer of complexity to an already strained disaster response system. With relief efforts ongoing for those affected by previous storms, the government and humanitarian organizations face the daunting task of preparing for yet another round of potentially severe weather.
In light of the ongoing crises, the UN has emphasized the need for continued and increased support from the international community. Gustavo Gonzalez stated that the emergency appeal would help “mobilize the capacities and resources of the humanitarian community to better support government institutions at national, regional, and local levels.” Gonzalez expressed hope that international donors and partners would respond quickly to help bridge the funding shortfall.
The appeal aims not only to provide immediate relief but also to lay the groundwork for longer-term recovery and resilience-building efforts. This includes ensuring access to clean water, restoring damaged infrastructure, and providing psychosocial support for those affected by the repeated disasters.
