Typhoon Yinxing, the 13th to strike the Philippines in 2024, made landfall in the northern province of Cagayan on Thursday, adding to the region’s ongoing struggles. Thousands of residents were evacuated as the typhoon brought fierce winds and torrential rains. The storm, locally named Marce, packed sustained winds of up to 175 km/h (109 mph), with gusts reaching 240 km/h (149 mph). Although there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, concerns remain over flash floods and the heightened risk of landslides in mountainous areas already impacted by recent storms.
The northern provinces, which had just started to recover from the devastation caused by Typhoon Kong-rey and Tropical Storm Trami, braced for Yinxing’s impact. Tens of thousands of evacuees returned to shelters as disaster-response teams went on high alert. Authorities had already suspended inter-island ferries, cargo services, and domestic flights to prevent further complications. Despite the ongoing devastation, the government’s quick response has kept immediate losses relatively low.
The recent storms have taken a severe toll on the region, with Typhoon Kong-rey and Tropical Storm Trami claiming at least 151 lives and affecting nearly 9 million people. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited Batangas province, which suffered the most casualties, and declared a national day of mourning. He also warned of the increasing intensity of storms, echoing concerns from the 2013 disaster caused by Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the central Philippines and killed over 7,300 people.
