A. SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
In less than a month, the Philippines experienced a series of six tropical cyclones that had devastating impacts on the country. Among these were Typhoons Kristine (international name Trami), Leon (Kong Rey), Marce (Yinxing), Nika (Toraji), Ofel (Usagi), and Pepito (Manyi), each contributing to the widespread destruction and challenges faced by the affected communities.
Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine (Trami) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as a tropical depression on 21 October 2024. It affected the entire Luzon and Visayas island regions extending to parts of Mindanao in the south. Even before making landfall, it caused severe flooding and landslides that impacted a significant number of people, especially in areas that were hit by the trough. The heavy rainfall led to lahar (destructive mudflows) flowing from Mount Mayon Volcano in the Bicol Region, which severely impacted both lives and livelihoods.
On 24 October, STS Kristine made landfall in Isabela province in northeast Luzon, then crossed to Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Ilocos Sur province on the same day. Kristine exited Luzon through Ilocos Sur, however, the trough of the STS continued to unleash heavy rain and winds across vast areas, severely impacting Regions III, IV-A, and V. On 25 October, STS Kristine exited the PAR and made landfall in Vietnam on 27 October. In the Philippines, STS Kristine was the 11th tropical cyclone in 2024, out of an annual average of 20 tropical cyclones that typically affect the country.
Following STS Kristine, Super Typhoon Leon (international name Kong-Rey) entered the PAR on 26 October. It passed over the far northern region of Luzon, affecting some of the remote islands in the area. Leon brought typhoon- 3 strong winds, heavy rain, flooding, and landslides to the northern islands and the extreme northern mainland of the Philippines before exiting on 1 November.
Tropical Storm (TS) Marce entered the PAR on 4 November and made landfall in Region II (Cagayan) on 7 November. The Cagayan Valley region experienced continuous heavy rains and widespread impacts due to Marce, which also affected parts of Region I, the CAR, and Region III.
After the exit of TS Marce, Tropical Cyclone (TC) Nika (Toraji) entered the PAR as a Low-Pressure Area on 9 November 2024. Nika later intensified into a typhoon and made landfall in the vicinity of Dilasag, Aurora (Region II), causing significant effects in Region I, Region III, and Region IV-A while two other weather disturbances with significant TC potential were hovering outside the PAR. The onslaught continued with Super Typhoon Ofel (Usagi), which entered PAR on 12 November and struck Baggao, Cagayan on 14 November, and Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-Yi), which entered PAR on 14 November, making its first landfall in Panganiban, Catanduanes on 16 November, followed by a second landfall in Dipaculao, Aurora on 17 November.
In an unprecedented event, the Philippines experienced a succession of devastating tropical storms within a single month, a first in the nation's recorded history. As a result, the same areas have been impacted repeatedly, with multiple tropical cyclones and associated hazards significantly intensifying the disasters. This escalation is attributed to existing vulnerabilities and a limited capacity for recovery, compounded by the frequency and recurrence of these events. This rapid series of tropical cyclones has inflicted extensive damage across various regions, severely impacting communities that are already grappling with vulnerabilities and limited resources.