Tropical Storm Fengshen (locally known as Ramil) has left a trail of destruction in its wake across the northern and central Philippines, killing at least eight people and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands from flood- and landslide-prone areas. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) confirmed the fatalities and reported that two people remain missing amid landslide incidents.
The storm made landfall over Gubat, in the southern tip of Luzon Island, and rapidly moved across the archipelago, unleashing intense rainfall, coastal surges, floods and landslides. In Quezon Province, five people—including two children—were pinned to death when a large tree crashed down on their hut while they slept. Additional deaths were reported in Western Visayas, where three people lost their lives in storm-related incidents.
Evacuation orders were widely enforced as coastal flooding warnings were issued — waves of up to 2 meters were predicted along exposed shores. In Albay Province, around 27,000 residents were ordered to relocate to safer inland areas ahead of the storm surge. National disaster officials also said that more than 22,000 people had already been evacuated, and that 15,000 families (about 30,000 individuals) were affected by flooding and landslide impacts.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, especially in Bukidnon, where two people remain missing after a landslide struck, hampering access to remote areas. Authorities also continue to verify the initial casualty figures as storm-related conditions may have complicated reporting.
Meteorologists say that although Fengshen is relatively weak in terms of sustained winds (around 65 km/h, with gusts up to 80 km/h), its heavy rainfall and flooding potential make it dangerous — especially in regions already saturated from previous disasters. The storm is forecast to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday morning, tracking toward the South China Sea, where it may intensify again as it heads toward Vietnam.
Officials remain concerned about residual flooding, secondary landslides, damaged infrastructure and disrupted communication lines. Communities in vulnerable terrain, especially with already weakened slopes or damaged drainage, are being urged to remain on high alert.
