Thousands of villages have been ordered to evacuate, and ports have been shut down as the Philippines braces for the impact of Typhoon Toraji, the fourth typhoon to hit the region in less than a month. Toraji made landfall near the northeastern town of Dilasag, about 220 kilometers from Manila, delivering punishing winds and heavy rains as disaster authorities scrambled to manage the massive evacuation effort.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Typhoon Toraji packed winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour and has already caused significant disruptions to infrastructure and communities in its path.
The provinces of Aurora, Isabela, and Cagayan bore the brunt of Toraji’s initial landfall, where the effects have been severe. Civil Defense Chief Merwina Pableo, based in Dinalungan, a coastal town close to the point of landfall, told AFP that their operations had already been affected by the early stages of the typhoon.
“We’re getting hit with strong winds and heavy rain. Some trees are being toppled and power has been cut since yesterday,” Pableo reported. “We cannot go out yet to make a damage assessment.”
In nearby Baler, an official evacuation was carried out as over 1,400 residents in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas were moved to safer locations, according to disaster operations officer Donald Allan Ty. With a projected path across densely populated areas, the government has ordered evacuations for approximately 2,500 villages, though final evacuation counts remain incomplete as of Monday.
Typhoon Toraji arrives on the heels of three destructive cyclones that collectively claimed 159 lives in various parts of the country. This string of cyclones has stretched disaster response capacities and tested community resilience to extreme weather events. The most recent storm, Typhoon Yinxing, struck the northern coast, leaving a trail of damaged buildings and homes and claiming the life of a 12-year-old girl in a tragic accident. Before Yinxing, Severe Tropical Storm Trami and Super Typhoon Kong-rey had wreaked havoc, with the combined death toll from these two storms alone reaching 158.
Each year, the Philippines experiences around 20 major storms and typhoons, a harrowing reminder of its geographical vulnerability. However, experts suggest that these storms are not just more frequent but are also evolving in their characteristics, a shift that many attribute to the effects of climate change.
A recent study examining storms in the Asia-Pacific region revealed that typhoons are increasingly forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly, and retaining their strength over land for longer periods. This shift is thought to be largely driven by warmer ocean temperatures, which can fuel storm systems and increase the moisture available for heavy rainfall. The Philippines, one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, is experiencing the brunt of these shifts.
As the storms arrive in quick succession, they limit the time that communities and infrastructure have to recover, stretching resources and heightening vulnerability. With each new storm, families are forced to evacuate repeatedly, while emergency services struggle to respond to the compounding effects of back-to-back disasters. The accelerated rate of these powerful storms is straining an already vulnerable nation, raising questions about long-term resilience in the face of intensifying natural disasters.
In response to Typhoon Toraji, both local and national government agencies mobilized to evacuate communities in the storm’s projected path. Schools and government offices across affected areas were ordered to close temporarily, and authorities are advising against unnecessary travel. The Philippine Coast Guard, in coordination with PAGASA, reported nearly 700 passengers stranded at ports as sea conditions have rendered travel dangerous. “Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels,” PAGASA warned, urging mariners to remain in port or find immediate shelter.
For many families, evacuation has become routine as they are compelled to leave behind their homes, belongings, and livelihoods to seek shelter from the oncoming typhoons. Some communities, already recovering from prior storms, are now dealing with limited resources and diminished capacity for shelter, adding to the challenges they face during these repeated evacuations.
As Typhoon Toraji moves inland, PAGASA is closely monitoring another developing tropical depression that could potentially strike the same region as early as Thursday. Meteorologist Veronica Torres of PAGASA noted that Tropical Storm Man-yi, currently east of Guam, also has the potential to reach the Philippines next week, signaling further storm activity in an already saturated region.
“Each storm is an added burden on our people and on our resources. We have to prepare for the possibility of back-to-back disasters,” Torres stated.
In the face of continued threats, disaster preparedness agencies are redoubling efforts to disseminate information and equip communities with essential resources. However, with each passing storm, the resilience of these communities is tested as they struggle to cope with the constant threat of natural disasters.
In areas prone to flooding and landslides, residents face immense challenges as their lives and livelihoods hang in the balance with each storm. The majority of residents in these regions rely on agriculture and fishing, industries that are highly susceptible to damage from typhoons. Each storm erodes the stability of these livelihoods, as farmers face crop loss and fisherfolk are unable to go out to sea.
For local business owners, the impact is equally severe. Each typhoon disrupts local markets, infrastructure, and the supply chain, reducing overall economic activity and slowing down recovery for these small, often family-owned businesses. Many have faced the reality of starting over from scratch multiple times in a single year due to the frequency of these storms.
The frequent and intense typhoons underscore the urgent need for sustainable solutions to manage and mitigate disaster risks in the Philippines. Enhancing infrastructure resilience, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and investing in community preparedness are key priorities for the government. The increased pace of disasters has prompted discussions around policy reform to improve building codes, zoning laws, and land use policies to ensure that homes and communities are better protected from future storms.
To mitigate the impact on agriculture, scientists are working with farmers to introduce climate-resilient crops that can withstand extreme weather, while fishing communities are being equipped with technology and knowledge to better anticipate weather changes. Public and private sectors are also exploring nature-based solutions, such as mangrove restoration, to protect vulnerable coastal communities from the effects of storm surges and flooding.
