Thousands evacuate Philippine coast as Tropical Storm Fengshen approaches

Thousands of residents have fled their homes on a Philippine island as Tropical Storm Fengshen is set to make landfall. The storm's eye is forecast to brush past Catanduanes, an impoverished island with over 270,000 people, later today, bringing gusts of up to 80km/h (50mph).

The government weather service has warned of heavy rainfall and a "minimal to moderate risk" of coastal flooding from waves reaching as high as 1.2 meters (3.2 feet). Over 9,000 residents have moved to safer ground, following an often-repeated drill on the island.

The Philippines is one of the most storm-prone countries in the world, with an average of 20 storms and typhoons hitting its shores each year. This has resulted in millions of impoverished people living in disaster-prone areas.

Scientists warn that climate change is causing storms to become more powerful, which poses a significant threat to the country's population. Fengshen comes as the Philippines is still reeling from a series of major earthquakes and typhoons that have claimed dozens of lives in recent weeks.

In fact, just last month, at least 79 people were killed in a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu province, followed by another earthquake and tsunami warning off the southern coast. A few days later, Typhoon Ragasa struck the northern Philippines, killing several people and forcing thousands to evacuate.

With Fengshen's approach, authorities are taking precautions to protect residents, while also acknowledging the severity of the situation. The storm is expected to bring significant disruption and damage to the island, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and disaster preparedness measures in the country.

omg can't believe another tropical storm hitting the philippines they really need to improve their disaster prep measures ASAP! the fact that over 9k ppl have already evacuated is a good start, but what about those who can't afford to leave or don't know where to go? and yeah climate change is making these storms super powerful it's like they're just getting stronger and stronger... did u no that the philippines is one of the most storm-prone countries in the world? 20+ storms/year is crazy! i feel so bad for all those ppl living in disaster-prone areas, but at least they're taking precautions now... hope everyone stays safe!

Ugh, this tropical storm thingy is just getting more intense by the minute! I feel so bad for those people on Catanduanes, having to deal with this already. The Philippines is literally one of the most affected countries in the world when it comes to natural disasters. And now they're saying climate change is making these storms even more powerful? That's just scary . 20 storms and typhoons a year is already too much, I don't think our planet can take it anymore . The government should be doing more to prepare for these situations, but I guess that's just how the system works... sigh .

ugh this is so frustrating I feel bad for these people who have to go through this every year it's like they're living on permanent cloud nine waiting for another natural disaster to hit 9k people already fled and more are going I hope the government can do something to prevent this kind of destruction but at the same time, they can't just ignore the climate change thing is happening it's not just about preparing for storms, it's about adapting to a new world where things are getting crazy

Ugh man... can't believe this tropical storm Fengshen is hitting the Philippines again Just a few weeks ago it was earthquakes and typhoons all over the place... people are suffering so much I feel so bad for those residents who had to flee their homes for safety, over 9k people already moved to safer grounds which is crazy . We need to do more to help our climate situation, it's like, we know storms are getting stronger and more frequent due to global warming... what can we do?! Can tech innovations help us better prepare for these disasters? Maybe some smart home systems or early warning apps could make a difference?

This whole thing is like a wake-up call for our government's disaster response plan I mean, 9k people have already fled their homes? That's not just a crisis situation, that's a national security issue How are they gonna ensure everyone's safety on the island when we're already dealing with climate change and more powerful storms? It's like, our government is saying one thing but doing another They need to step up their game and invest in disaster preparedness, not just talk about it And what about all these folks who can't even afford to evacuate? That's a class issue right there We gotta rethink how we're addressing poverty and inequality in this country because it's all connected

this tropical storm is hitting a lot of people hard & it's just crazy how climate change is making these storms more intense... 270k ppl on Catanduanes r really vulnerable i feel bad for them, got to hope they make it thru w/o major damage. 9k ppl already moved out which is good, but still alot of ppl r left behind gotta be super careful & prepared when storms come

Oh man, can't believe what's happening on Catanduanes... so many people are being forced to flee their homes again due to this storm . I mean, 80km/h winds? That's crazy! And it's not just the wind - all that rain and flooding is gonna cause so much damage .

I'm thinking about those 270k+ people who live on that island... they deserve better than living in fear of these storms . We need to do more to prepare for climate change, you know? It's not just a problem for the Philippines - it's a global issue .

Anyway, I hope everyone stays safe out there and that the authorities can do their part to help them . This is just another reminder of how important it is to be prepared and take care of each other in times of crisis .

I'm so worried about these people on Catanduanes they deserve better . It's like, we know climate change is real and it's getting worse . Storms are becoming more powerful and intense . We need to do something about it , but I don't know what .

I mean, 9,000 people have already fled their homes? That's crazy! It's not just them, though - millions of people are living in disaster-prone areas because the Philippines is one of the most storm-prone countries in the world . We need to support them more and help them prepare for these kinds of situations .

I'm also thinking about the scientists who are warning us about climate change... they're like, totally right . But it's hard to believe when we see all these devastating effects in real life . I just hope that something will be done soon .