Shortly after the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Ragasa, Tropical Storm Bualoi-the 15th tropical cyclone to impact the Philippines in 2025-is now advancing toward Vietnam.
Published On 26 Sep 2025
At least four fatalities have been reported and hundreds of thousands displaced as Tropical Storm Bualoi battered the Philippines, unleashing severe flooding and landslides just days after the country was ravaged by a powerful super typhoon.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Severe Tropical Storm Bualoi continues to impact the central Philippine islands, moving northwest with wind gusts reaching 135 kilometers per hour (84 miles per hour) as of 05:30 GMT Friday. The agency has issued warnings about intense rainfall in vulnerable regions.
Bernardo Alejandro, a civil defense official, announced during a Friday briefing that approximately 400,000 residents have been evacuated from multiple islands. Of these, around 87,000 evacuees are from the eastern Bicol area, according to disaster response authorities.
Provincial officials in Eastern Samar and Northern Samar reported that over 73,000 individuals have sought refuge in government-run evacuation centers.
State broadcaster PTV confirmed four deaths in the Bicol region as of 03:00 GMT. Claudio Yucot, director of Bicol’s civil defense, detailed that three fatalities occurred on Masbate Island, including one person crushed by a fallen tree, while another individual was fatally struck by lightning in Camarines Norte Province.
Governor Richard Kho of Masbate stated via a Facebook briefing that the storm has displaced at least 20,000 residents on the island.
On Panay Island, heavy precipitation triggered a landslide along a major highway, according to local disaster management officials.
Social media posts reveal vehicles partially submerged in mud as heavy machinery works to clear the road, while residents are evacuated amid rising floodwaters in Iloilo province.
Flooding also affected parts of Manila, prompting authorities to suspend classes in several districts.
Impact of Climate Change and Governance Issues
Forecasters in the Philippines predict that Bualoi, now heading toward the South China Sea, may intensify back into a typhoon as it approaches Vietnam.
The Philippines typically faces around 20 tropical storms and typhoons annually, placing millions in vulnerable zones and perpetuating cycles of poverty.
Experts warn that climate change is contributing to the increasing strength and frequency of these storms, as rising global temperatures fuel more extreme weather events.
Many communities are still recovering from Super Typhoon Ragasa, which struck the northernmost parts of the country earlier this week, resulting in at least nine deaths.
Bualoi’s arrival coincides with ongoing probes into corruption allegations involving politicians, including close associates of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., related to flood control and infrastructure projects.
Reports of multi-billion peso kickbacks allegedly funding extravagant lifestyles have sparked widespread public anger, culminating in a large-scale protest that turned violent on Sunday.
