At least 13 individuals have perished in the Philippines as a result of tropical storm Yagi, with schools and government offices in Manila and surrounding provinces closed on Tuesday due to anticipated severe weather. Yagi, locally referred to as Enteng, made landfall on Monday in the eastern town of Casiguran in Aurora province, causing power outages in the municipality, according to disaster officer Elson Egargue via telephone. By 8am (0000 GMT), the storm's center was located in coastal waters off the northern city of Laoag in Ilocos province, as reported by the state weather agency Pag-asa in a bulletin. Yagi maintained winds of 75kmph and was forecast to move northwest across the South China Sea. Officials reported at least seven fatalities in Antipolo, east of Manila, due to landslides and drowning. Four individuals were unaccounted for after a landslide and flash flood carried them away. "Search and rescue operations are underway," stated Antipolo disaster officer Enrilito Bernardo over the phone. Additional fatalities were reported in the central provinces of the country. Two individuals died in Northern Samar from a landslide, and one person drowned in Negros Oriental, according to officials. Three people perished in the eastern city of Naga, as confirmed by disaster officer Ernesto Elcamel. Two other deaths in the central city of Cebu have yet to be officially confirmed as storm-related, according to a disaster officer who chose to remain anonymous. The Philippines typically experiences an average of 20 tropical storms and typhoons annually.
Text: Lara Palmer
03.09.2024
Schools and government offices closed in Manila amid severe weather warnings