27 Dec 2017 | 07:26 PM UTC
Philippines: At least 240 dead in wake of Tropical Storm Tembin Dec. 26 /update 2
Tropical Storm Tembin affects over 500,000 in Philippines, leaving at least 240 dead; ongoing power outages and traffic disruptions reported due to flooding and landslides
Event
Tropical Storm Tembin (also known as Vinta) affected over 500,000 people in the Philippines when it struck the country between Friday, December 22, and Saturday, December 23. Tembin had left at least 240 people dead and 171 other missing in the Philippines as of Tuesday, December 26. Among the areas most affected by the storm are those on Mindanao Island, including Zamboanga Peninsula, Lanao del Norte province, and Lanao del Sur province.
According to the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, around 182,000 people have been displaced from the storm, including 97,000 who have sought shelter in emergency evacuation centers in the southern Philippines. On Zamboanga Peninsula, flooding and landslides caused power outages, communications disruptions, and traffic disruptions as several bridges and roads were destroyed; such disruptions were ongoing according to media reports released Monday, December 25, citing local officials. It is unclear when such disruptions will abate. Power outages and traffic and communications disruptions are expected to persist in affected areas in the coming days. The death toll is also expected to rise in the coming days as recovery efforts continue.
Context
Typhoons and tropical storms regularly strike the Philippines during the monsoon season - which spans from November to April in the northeast, and from May to October in the southwest. On average, roughly 20 typhoons and tropical storms hit the country each year.
Advice
Individuals present in the affected areas of the Philippines are advised to monitor local weather reports, confirm travel reservations, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities. Be prepared to leave immediately if an evacuation order is given.
Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.
