MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A tropical storm named Bualoi swept through the Philippines on Friday, resulting in at least four fatalities and prompting new evacuations of tens of thousands of individuals from areas vulnerable to landslides and flooding. This storm follows closely on the heels of Typhoon Ragasa, which wreaked havoc in the northern Philippines and Taiwan, causing at least 25 deaths primarily due to flooding before moving on to China and dissipating over Vietnam.
Bualoi made landfall in the town of San Policarpo located in Eastern Samar province, late Thursday, bringing with it sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (68 mph). The storm has since weakened but has caused power outages in several towns and villages, triggered flooding, and resulted in two minor landslides, according to reports from the country's disaster-mitigation agency.
As the storm approached, over 73,000 residents from Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces sought refuge in government emergency shelters, according to provincial officials. In the central island province of Masbate, the four reported deaths were caused by separate incidents involving a falling tree, a collapsed wall, falling debris, and lightning during the storm's passage Thursday night.
Masbate Governor Ricardo Kho emphasized the urgent need for clearing operations, stating, "We need clearing operations because most of our road networks are not really passable for food and health assistance to pass." He also urged for the swift reopening of ports to facilitate the receipt of aid from nearby provinces affected by the storm.
Bualoi, locally referred to as Opong, marks the 15th tropical cyclone to impact the Philippines in 2023. Currently moving northwest, the fast-moving storm has a rain and wind band extending approximately 450 kilometers (280 miles) from its center. It is expected to travel over densely populated coastal provinces south of Manila later on Friday before entering the South China Sea. Meteorologists have indicated that Bualoi could restore its power and regain typhoon status as it heads toward Vietnam.
The timing of this storm is particularly sensitive for the Philippines, as recent investigations have entangled several lawmakers—many affiliated with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—in a corruption scandal linked to flood control and infrastructure projects. There have been serious allegations of significant kickbacks that allegedly fund the extravagant lifestyles of those implicated, igniting public outrage and protests in a nation already fraught with the devastating impact of floods and typhoons.
