Philippines Evacuates 400,000 as Tropical Storm Bualoi Leaves 3 Dead

At least three people were killed and more than 400,000 evacuated across the Philippines on Friday as Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi battered communities still reeling from the devastation of Super Typhoon Ragasa.

Authorities said the victims died in the Bicol region of Luzon after strong winds brought down walls and uprooted trees. The storm, packing sustained winds of 110 km/h (70 mph), tore through homes, ripped off roofs, and left roads blocked by debris.

In Masbate province, evacuees huddled inside a church were forced to flee after the building’s roof and windows were ripped apart in the early morning. “That’s one of the strongest winds I’ve ever experienced,” said municipal engineer Jerome Martinez, noting that several children suffered minor injuries.

Rescue teams reported widespread damage, with fallen trees and toppled electric poles making roads impassable. “The rain was strong, but the wind was stronger,” said Frandell Anthony Abellera, a rescuer in Masbate City.

The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that five fishermen went missing in the Visayas region after sailing out earlier in the week, as rising waves hampered search operations. Officials also warned of storm surges of up to three meters along coastal communities.

The national weather bureau said Bualoi could intensify into a typhoon as it moves into the South China Sea on Saturday.

The storm struck just days after Super Typhoon Ragasa killed 14 people in northern Philippines and displaced thousands before moving on to Taiwan, where it caused additional fatalities and left dozens missing.

The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations, is hit by about 20 storms and typhoons annually. Scientists warn that climate change is making such weather systems stronger and more destructive.