Thousands flee Philippine coast as storm approaches Manila
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Tropical Storm Fengshen forces mass evacuations in the Philippines as Catanduanes and Albay face coastal flooding and strong winds.
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Rescuers inspect a flooded area in Lemery, Batangas province, Philippines, caused by Typhoon Matmo on October 3, 2025. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)
Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes along the Pacific coast of the Philippines on Saturday as Tropical Storm Fengshen approached, bringing the threat of coastal flooding and strong winds.
The Philippine weather agency forecast that the storm would make landfall on the island of Catanduanes late Saturday, carrying gusts of up to 90 kilometers (56 miles) per hour. A second landfall is expected on Luzon, the country’s most populous island, by Sunday morning.
The government’s weather service warned that Fengshen could bring heavy rainfall and pose a “minimal to moderate risk” of coastal flooding. Waves of 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet) are expected to hit low-lying areas as the storm moves inland.
In Catanduanes, a province with a population of around 270,000, more than 9,000 residents were moved to safer ground. In the nearby province of Albay, local officials reported that nearly 17,000 people had been evacuated as a precaution against flooding and landslides.
Government urges preparedness in high-risk areas
The provincial government of Catanduanes instructed local authorities to “activate their respective evacuation plans” for people living in high-risk areas, including coastal zones, low-lying communities, and landslide-prone slopes, according to rescue official Gerry Rubio.
The evacuations form part of a well-established disaster response in eastern regions of the country, which frequently face the brunt of western Pacific cyclones.
The Philippines, which is hit by roughly 20 storms and typhoons annually, remains particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events. Scientists warn that climate change and typhoons are closely linked, with warming ocean temperatures making storms more intense and destructive.
Many of the affected areas are also among the poorest in the country, increasing the risk of long-term displacement and hardship following natural disasters.
The arrival of Tropical Storm Fengshen comes as the country is still recovering from a series of powerful earthquakes that killed at least 87 people over the past three weeks. The overlapping crises have stretched emergency services and intensified concerns over long-term disaster preparedness in the region.
