Super typhoon Ragasa has battered the northern Philippines, unleashing torrential rains and tree-snapping winds across the archipelago. Floods and deadly landslides have cut off communities and left widespread destruction in their wake.
According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), crews recovered four bodies on Wednesday after a fishing boat capsized off the coast of Cagayan province, pushing the death toll from Ragasa to six. Six survivors have been pulled from the water, and rescue teams are still searching for three fishermen who remain missing.
Earlier in La Union province, a 67-year-old man was found dead along the shoreline of Agoo town after falling into a swollen river during the storm. In landlocked Benguet province, a 74-year-old man lost his life when a landslide struck his vehicle on a highway in Tuba town, injuring several other passengers.
Roads in flood-prone areas remain underwater, and power outages are affecting thousands of households. Local disaster response units have set up temporary shelters for displaced residents and are distributing food, water, and medical supplies to the hardest-hit communities.
Authorities are urging everyone in vulnerable zones to stay alert to weather updates and follow evacuation orders to stay safe.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
