Eight dead, thousands evacuated as tropical storm Fengshen lashes Philippines

At least eight people have been killed and two remain missing following the passage of Tropical Storm Fengshen over the Philippines, authorities said.
The storm triggered floods, landslides, and widespread evacuations across Luzon and central provinces.
According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), five fatalities occurred in the municipality of Pitogo in Quezon province when a massive tree fell on a house, and three more were reported killed in the Western Visayas region. Two individuals are still missing after a landslide struck Quezon in Bukidnon province, in southern Mindanao.
Rescue teams remain active in affected areas, where approximately 15,000 families — around 30,000 people — have been impacted. More than 22,000 individuals have been evacuated to safe shelters amid intense rainfall and storm-driven hazards.
Weather authorities reported that Fengshen (known locally as Ramil) made landfall near Gubat in Sorsogon province with maximum sustained winds of approximately 65 km/h and gusts up to 90 km/h.
The Philippine Weather Agency (PAGASA) issued Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 over 17 areas in Quezon province and nearby regions, warning of gusty winds, heavy rainfall and possible coastal inundation.
Though the storm was modest in wind strength compared to major typhoons, its heavy rainfall and 2-meter waves prompted evacuation of about 27,000 people in Albay province and elsewhere.
After crossing Luzon, Fengshen tracked into the South China Sea, where meteorologists warned it could re-intensify before heading toward the Vietnam coast.
The Philippines — part of the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire” and a frequent target of tropical cyclones — faces around 20 such storms yearly. The nation’s central and southern regions are already under strain from a recent series of earthquakes that killed over 80 people and damaged more than 134,000 homes.
Authorities caution that even as Fengshen weakens, the threat from flooding, landslides and coastal surges remains elevated, particularly in regions with saturated ground and compromised infrastructure. The OCD urged residents in landslide- and flood-prone areas to stay alert and heed evacuation orders. (ILKHA)
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