The Philippine Office of Civil Defense announced in an official statement issued Saturday evening that the death toll from Tropical Storm Pasiang had risen to at least eight, due to the storm's devastating effects, including flooding and landslides, in the southern parts of the country. This disaster adds to the suffering of residents in areas already experiencing extreme weather fluctuations.
Details of the victims and affected areas
In the announcement, Diego Agustín Mariano, deputy spokesperson for the Civil Defense Office, explained that emergency teams recorded four deaths in the city of Cagayan de Oro as a result of a tragic landslide that swept through a densely populated residential area. He added that three more deaths were recorded in the city of Iligan due to flash floods that inundated neighborhoods, and one drowning was reported in the province of Agusan del Norte. Mariano emphasized that these figures are still preliminary and are subject to ongoing verification by the relevant authorities.
Geographical context and the challenges of natural disasters
The Philippines is one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiencing approximately 20 tropical storms and typhoons annually. This geographic location puts the infrastructure in both the southern and northern regions under constant strain from the forces of nature. Typhoon Pasiang brought back memories of past devastating storms, highlighting the ongoing need to develop early warning systems and strengthen disaster response strategies to minimize human and material losses.
Displacement movement and hurricane effects
On the humanitarian front, local authorities reported that approximately 3,800 families were directly affected by the rising water levels and the destruction of homes. The worsening situation necessitated the evacuation of over 2,000 people in the city of Cagayan de Oro to temporary shelters for their safety.
The effects of the hurricane extended to the transportation sector, as thousands of travelers were stranded in various ports and across the country, following the Coast Guard’s decision to completely suspend maritime travel due to the severe weather conditions and high waves, which led to a temporary paralysis of movement between the islands.
