MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Storm Penha unleashed devastating floods and landslides across the southern Philippines, resulting in a confirmed death toll of at least eight individuals and forcing the evacuation of over 28,000 residents. The storm made landfall in the southeastern province of Surigao del Sur from the Pacific Ocean late Thursday, according to official statements released on Friday.
The national weather agency reported that the storm, known locally as Basyang, weakened into a tropical depression by Friday night. It was last located over the central province of Cebu, carrying sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (34 mph) and gusts reaching 75 kph (47 mph).
Tragedy struck in Cagayan de Oro city when a landslide, triggered by the storm’s torrential rains, obliterated a shanty in a quarry area. Regional Office of Civil Defense director Antonio Sugarol confirmed the deaths of a couple and two children in the incident. Separate drowning fatalities were reported in Iligan city and Carmen town in Agusan del Norte province.
Rescue operations were urgently underway as desperate residents became trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters. In a dramatic radio appeal to DZMM network, an Iligan city resident pleaded for help from the second floor of her submerged home, where her family and three other families were stranded. Director Sugarol assured live on air that rescue teams were en route to the flooded villages of Mahayahay and Tubod.
The storm’s impact extended beyond immediate casualties, disrupting regional infrastructure significantly. Over 7,400 passengers and cargo workers found themselves stranded across 78 seaports after the Philippine Coast Guard suspended maritime travel due to dangerously rough seas. Educational institutions across affected regions suspended classes indefinitely.
Government forecaster Robert Badrina noted the unusual timing of Penha’s arrival, occurring ahead of the summer season when tropical activity typically diminishes. The storm’s extensive rain and wind band spanned approximately 660 kilometers (410 miles) wide.
The Philippines, situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire, faces approximately 20 typhoons and tropical storms annually alongside frequent seismic activity, positioning it among the world’s most vulnerable nations to natural disasters.