Typhoon Ofel, known internationally as Usagi, struck northern Philippines on Thursday, prompting evacuations from coastal regions. Making landfall in Baggao, Cagayan at 5:30 a.m. GMT, Usagi packed winds of 175 km/h. The UN is calling for $32.9 million in aid to support the most impacted areas.
Typhoon Ofel Weakens but Remains Dangerous
Initially raised to the highest alert, Typhoon Ofel was downgraded by the national weather agency upon landfall in Cagayan. Strong winds threatened light structures and uprooted trees, with coastal waves of up to three meters and torrential rain expected. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited affected areas, distributing emergency aid and urging compliance with evacuation orders.
Marcos Jr. urged Mindoro residents to prioritize safety over possessions, stressing the importance of evacuation to save lives. He emphasized improving infrastructure to reduce storm impacts, which he attributed to climate change.
Forced Evacuations in Cagayan
In worsening conditions, Cagayan officials conducted forced evacuations for coastal and riverside residents on Thursday. Local disaster official Edward Gaspar reported over 1,400 evacuees sheltering in a gym, with many more in nearby villages. Civil defense expects local governments to move 40,000 people to shelters, matching evacuations made earlier for Typhoon Marce.
More than 5,000 Cagayan residents remain in shelters after previous storms, as the swollen Cagayan River, the country’s largest, continues to rise with upstream rain. Further rainfall from Typhoon Usagi is expected to prolong the situation.
Overlapping Typhoons Threaten Central Philippines
After Typhoon Ofel, Tropical Storm Pepito (Man-yi) is projected to strike near Manila over the weekend. A high-pressure area in southern Japan may shift Pepito on a southerly path, intensifying impacts in central regions. With consecutive cyclones Nika, Ofel, and Pepito, resources and recovery efforts are stretched thin as communities brace for each new storm.
Typhoon Kristina’s Widespread Impact
This series of severe storms occurs less than a month after Typhoon Kristina struck the Philippines in late October, causing major flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage, particularly in the Bicol region. The typhoon affected over 4.2 million people, with thousands displaced and significant agricultural losses. This storm, followed by others, has strained resources and delayed recovery efforts.
UN Assessment: Ongoing Crisis
The UN reports over 207,000 homes damaged or destroyed in the past month, displacing nearly 700,000 people. Many families lack essentials, such as sleeping mats, hygiene kits, and clean water access. Thousands of hectares of farmland were lost, with delayed replanting expected to worsen food security.
