Typhoon Usagi—locally known as Ofel—struck the northern Philippines with immense force on Thursday afternoon, damaging homes, displacing families, and creating widespread concern across the affected regions. The typhoon, which intensified into a super typhoon upon landfall in Baggao, Cagayan, has since weakened as it moved toward Taiwan. However, with Typhoon Man-yi expected to hit over the weekend, the Philippines is in the grip of another impending disaster, sparking extensive preemptive measures to prevent loss of life and property.
Typhoon Usagi approached the Philippines with unrelenting winds and torrential rains, intensifying rapidly into a super typhoon before it struck the coastal town of Baggao in Cagayan province. With winds gusting above 185 km/h, the storm ravaged homes, downed power lines, uprooted trees, and disrupted essential infrastructure in its path.
The Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) tracked Usagi’s path as it continued northward, issuing critical updates to prepare the northern Luzon region for its impact. Despite the weakened storm, thousands of families were forced to flee to safer ground, evacuating from vulnerable areas in anticipation of landslides and flash floods.
While no fatalities have been reported so far, local officials are still conducting assessments. Rueli Rapsing, the head of Cagayan’s disaster relief office, described the immediate challenges: “There were more homes that were partially or totally blown away after Marce (Typhoon Yinxing). Currently, we’re moving around assessing the damage.”
In the wake of Usagi, Cagayan’s provincial government and local disaster teams have been working tirelessly to assess the storm’s full impact. Photos from the area show homes with roofs stripped away, roads blocked by debris, and several low-lying areas inundated by floodwaters. Evacuation centers in Cagayan and nearby provinces were quickly activated to accommodate families who fled their homes ahead of Usagi’s arrival.
Rescue teams, often wading through muddy, chest-deep waters, worked overnight to help stranded individuals. Despite the challenging weather conditions, officials report that preemptive evacuation measures prevented immediate casualties, though significant damage to homes and infrastructure has been observed.
Typhoon Usagi is only the latest in a series of tropical storms that have battered the Philippines this year. As the 15th cyclone of the 2023 season, Usagi came on the heels of multiple severe weather events that left portions of the country vulnerable. Recent tropical systems, including Tropical Storm Trami and Typhoon Kong-rey, caused deadly flooding and landslides, resulting in 162 fatalities and leaving 22 people missing. According to government reports, the devastation has stretched from isolated towns in the north to major urban centers.
Adding to the alarm, four major storms were observed in the western Pacific at once this month—a first since records began in 1951, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The Philippines, which averages around 20 typhoons per year, has been particularly hard-hit this season, with many of the storms impacting the densely populated Luzon region.
Even as the Philippines begins recovering from Usagi, there is little reprieve in sight, as Typhoon Man-yi gathers strength over the western Pacific. PAG-ASA warned that Man-yi could intensify into a super typhoon by Sunday and has advised communities in its projected path, including Manila and several eastern towns, to prepare for heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surges.
PAG-ASA meteorologists estimate Man-yi’s center to be around 795 kilometers east of Guian, Eastern Samar. With the storm tracking towards Luzon, preemptive evacuations are already underway. The central provinces could experience storm surges up to 3 meters high, while inland areas are bracing for potential flooding and landslides.
Disaster preparedness efforts are in full swing as authorities mobilize resources to mitigate the impacts of Man-yi. In addition to evacuating vulnerable residents, local governments have stockpiled relief supplies, established emergency response teams, and coordinated with the national government to expedite disaster response actions.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is prioritizing evacuations in high-risk zones, focusing on low-lying communities prone to flooding and areas near riverbanks where rising waters pose a significant threat. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has deployed emergency supplies to regional warehouses to ensure relief materials reach affected families without delay.
“We are taking proactive measures,” explained OCD spokesperson Mike Roque, adding that they have mobilized units across Luzon to handle potential challenges caused by Typhoon Man-yi.
The Philippines has long been known as one of the most disaster-prone nations globally, largely due to its geographical location in the Pacific Typhoon Belt. Situated in the path of tropical cyclones originating in the Pacific Ocean, the country experiences a high frequency of typhoons, with each storm season bringing additional challenges to communities still recovering from previous weather events.
In recent years, climate change has exacerbated the situation, with scientists observing that typhoons affecting the Philippines are increasing in both frequency and intensity. Rising ocean temperatures contribute to stronger cyclones, with slower wind dissipation, leading to greater destruction as they make landfall. Local authorities and climate experts have highlighted the urgent need for reinforced infrastructure, sustainable housing, and enhanced disaster response protocols to address the growing climate threats facing the Philippines.
“Our coastal communities are among the most vulnerable in the world,” said Dr. Elisa Bautista, a climate scientist and professor at the University of the Philippines. “Rising sea levels and warmer ocean temperatures are intensifying these storms. If we don’t act now, the next decade could be catastrophic for the Philippines.”
