Philippines Prepares for Typhoon Bualoi After Ragasa

MANILA — The Philippines closed schools and canceled flights on Thursday as Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi threatened to hit the country just days after Super Typhoon Ragasa claimed nine lives.

The storm is forecast to intensify into a typhoon by Friday, targeting the southern part of Luzon, the country’s largest island. Authorities warned of a “high risk of life-threatening storm surge” of up to three meters (10 feet).

Benison Estareja from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said widespread flooding and landslides in mountainous areas are possible. Civil Defense Administrator Harold Cabreros added that continuous rains could cause renewed flooding and landslides in areas already saturated from Ragasa.

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Around 1,500 people were stranded in ports in Bicol, the region expected to be most affected. Thousands remain displaced after Ragasa passed over the northern Philippines.

Ragasa killed at least nine people, including seven fishermen in Cagayan Province whose boat capsized, one person struck by a fallen tree, and a 74-year-old man in a landslide in Benguet. Several others were injured.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos assured that food, medicine, and emergency aid were in position for the areas likely to be affected by Bualoi.

The Philippines faces an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, leaving millions in disaster-prone regions vulnerable. Scientists warn that storms are intensifying due to human-driven climate change.

The new threat comes amid public outrage over a flood-control scandal that reportedly cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

PAGASA continues to monitor Bualoi’s path, urging residents in coastal and mountainous areas to remain alert and follow evacuation orders if issued.