The Philippines again suffered destruction on Friday as Severe Tropical Storm Bualoli attacked the country, resulting in the death of at least three people and the displacement of over 400,000 people. The force hit at a time when people had not recovered fully yet due to the damage caused by Super Typhoon Ragasa, worsening the situation in most of the archipelago.
The deaths were three, as confirmed by the civil defence officials in the Bicol region of southern Luzon, due to collapsing walls and uprooted trees. It was a 110-kmph sustained windstorm that travelled west-northwest, causing violent winds and pouring down rain. Local news outlets reported of havoc, people were running out of collapsing buildings and seeking shelter where they could.
The evacuees in Masbate province who had already assembled in a church to seek protection experienced more of the terror when the roof of the church was torn to pieces. Municipal engineer Jerome Martinez said the door was shattered, the windows and the roof of the church were shattered by the wind around 4 am. He said that the winds were some of the strongest he had ever had, adding that a number of children had been injured, and some were needed to stitch them. More individuals will be forced to evacuate even more since most of the houses were destroyed and roofs were carried away. They have now been obstructing the streets and the roads, added Martinez.
With a yearly average of 20 storms and typhoons, the Philippines, which is located in the Pacific typhoon belt, is experiencing a never-ending loss and recovery cycle in the millions of people affected in the disaster-susceptible areas. Another reminder of this weakness is the devastating effect of Bualoi.
According to experts, climate change caused by human activity is increasing the intensity of storms and making them more widespread and unpredictable. To Filipinos, it implies that there will be increased chances of displacement, poverty and repeated humanitarian calamities in the coming years, unless more effective adaptation and mitigation strategies are put into place.
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