Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi Lashes Philippines, Leaves at Least 4 Dead

Manila – Severe tropical storm Bualoi battered the Philippines on Friday, leaving at least four people dead, according to the country’s Office of Civil Defence (OCD).

Claudio Yucot, OCD regional director in Bicol, confirmed the casualties during a televised briefing. Meanwhile, five fishermen from Eastern Samar province remain missing after failing to return from sea earlier this week, said Lord Byron Torrecarion, OCD regional director in Eastern Visayas.

The state weather bureau PAGASA reported that Bualoi, locally named Opong, was moving westward across the central Philippines at 35 km/h, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h and gusts of up to 135 km/h.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 14 deaths have been reported nationwide in recent weeks due to the combined impact of Bualoi, Ragasa, and the southwest monsoon. So far, 303,537 families—about 1.21 million people—have been affected.

Bualoi, the 15th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, spans nearly 450 km in diameter. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday afternoon after passing near densely populated provinces south of Manila before moving into the South China Sea.

On average, around 20 typhoons hit the Philippines annually, often triggering floods, landslides, and widespread destruction.

With inputs from IANS