Tropical Storm Kompasu leaves 22 dead in the Philippines

Monday, October 18, 2021

At least 22 people have been killed and more than 16 others left missing severe Tropical Storm Kompasu wrecked havoc in the most populous island of Luzon causing heavy rain across the Philippines, flooding villages and triggering landslides. The storm swept across the archipelago nation towards the South China Sea.

Four people were killed in landslides in the landlocked mountainous province of Benguet, and one person drowned in the coastal province of Cagayan, as per national disaster agency said. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the death toll could further rise to 39, adding it is verifying reports of 17 other deaths and one missing from landslides and flooding in the northern Philippine regions and Palawan, an island in Luzon.

Nearly seven people were previously reported missing on Luzon Island. Cagayan provincial information officer Rogelio Sending said in a statement that the storm left eleven municipalities, major highways and bridges flooded but the water started retreating on Tuesday. The storm also intensified the southwest monsoon, sparking a flash flood in a village in the western island province of Palawan, leaving four people dead and the same number missing.

Nearly 2,000 people were evacuated to safety after the storm. As per agencies, the northern Philippine regions were the hardest-hit by the calamity. Damage to agriculture was estimated at more than 2 billion pesos ($39 million). Tropical storm Kompasu made landfall on Monday and is the 13th tropical cyclone to lash the Philippines this year.

The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every year, wiping out harvests, homes and infrastructure in already impoverished areas. Climate change has further increased the risk and intensity of flooding from extreme rainfall.

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