PH Under Water: Emong Kills 25, Paralyzes Luzon!

MANILA, Philippines — At least 25 people have died and eight others remain missing as Typhoon Emong (international name: Co-may) and intensified monsoon rains wreaked havoc across Northern Luzon, prompting mass evacuations, power outages, and a state of calamity in dozens of areas.

The fatalities, reported since last weekend, were mostly caused by flash floods, landslides, toppled trees, and electrocution, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The stormy weather has displaced over 278,000 individuals, with many now staying in evacuation centers or with relatives. Nearly 3,000 homes have been damaged.

Emong made landfall Thursday night in Agno, Pangasinan, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 165 kph. By Friday morning, it had weakened slightly, with sustained winds of 100 kph as it tracked northeastward, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Though there were no immediate reports of casualties directly linked to the typhoon’s landfall, Emong intensified seasonal monsoon rains that have soaked a large part of the country for over a week.

To address the worsening situation, at least 77 towns and cities—mostly in Luzon—have declared a state of calamity, which allows faster access to emergency funds and enforces a price freeze on basic commodities such as rice.

Classes were suspended in 35 provinces, including Metro Manila, where schools remained closed for a third consecutive day. Sea and air travel in northern provinces were restricted, with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reporting 176 passengers stranded at 11 ports across Southern Tagalog, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas. Fourteen vessels and 12 motorized bancas also sought shelter due to rough seas.

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) said nearly 390,000 households lost power due to storm-related damage.

As of PAGASA’s Friday afternoon advisory, Emong had weakened into a tropical storm. Batanes and the Babuyan Islands were placed under Storm Signal No. 2, while Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and mainland Cagayan were under Signal No. 1.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., fresh from a U.S. visit where he met with President Donald Trump, visited evacuation centers in Rizal province Thursday to personally distribute food packs to displaced families. He later convened an emergency meeting with disaster officials and stressed the urgent need to adapt to climate change and the increasing frequency of severe weather events.

“Everything has changed,” Marcos said. “Let’s not ask what might happen if a storm comes—the storm will come.”

Emong is the fifth tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines since the start of the rainy season in June. PAGASA warns that over a dozen more storms could affect the country before the year ends.