MANILA, Philippines – The combined impacts from multiple tropical cyclones and the Philippines’ annual monsoon season have triggered widespread flooding, landslides and power outages, impacting millions across the country and resulting in more than two dozen fatalities, according to government officials.
The country’s Office of Civil Defense said the recent impacts of Tropical Cyclone Emong, compounded by the monsoon, known locally as Habagat, caused major disruptions to infrastructure and have forced the shutdown of schools.
More than 53,000 families have sought refuge in evacuation centers following days of torrential rainfall, and access to many of the hardest-hit regions remains severely limited due to submerged roadways.
Officials said most of the reported deaths were caused by drowning and incidents involving capsized small vessels.
Disaster declarations have been issued in at least 88 cities and municipalities, enabling governments to access emergency funding and speed up the deployment of assistance.
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Pedestrians and motorists wade through a flooded highway in Cainta town, east of Manila on July 22, 2025, in the aftermath of monsoon rains. Floodwaters driven by torrential rains ground life in the Philippine capital to a halt on July 22 with tens of thousands evacuated from their homes and at least two people believed missing.
(Photo by TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images) -
A woman collects trash on a flooded street at a village in Cainta town, east of Manila on July 22, 2025, in the aftermath of monsoon rains. Floodwaters driven by torrential rains ground life in the Philippine capital to a halt on July 22 with tens of thousands evacuated from their homes and at least two people believed missing.
(Photo by TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images) -
TOPSHOT – Residents wade through a flooded street after heavy rains in Dagupan City, Pangasinan province, north of Manila on July 24, 2025. The Philippines shut down schools and cancelled flights on July 24 as torrential rains driven by a typhoon and a separate tropical storm pounded the country’s northern island of Luzon.
(Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images) -
An aerial view shows flooded villages in Calumpit, Bulacan province, north of Manila on July 25, 2025, after a river over-flowed due to heavy rains brought about by Typhoon Co-May. Rescuers in the northern Philippines picked up residents stranded by flooding and delivered supplies by boat July 25, as Typhoon Co-May was downgraded to a tropical storm hours after making landfall on the west coast. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP) (Photo by TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)
DEMISE OF AUSTRALIA’S LARGE KANGAROOS LIKELY NOT CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, STUDY SUGGESTS
Officials noted that although several government facilities sustained damage in the northern regions, rescue operations continued and aircraft were being used to access communities that have been cut off.
“We thank our rescuers, humanitarian workers, and local disaster personnel who are braving difficult conditions to save lives and bring much-needed relief to our people. Their courage, commitment, and compassion are the foundation of our country’s disaster response,” said Rafaelito Alejandro, the deputy administrator at the Office of Civil Defense, in a statement.
Since the flooding began, the government has distributed approximately $5 million worth of emergency assistance, including food, clean water, shelter materials and hygiene kits.
The U.S. government also announced it would contribute about $250,000 in funding to the United Nations World Food Programme to aid in relief in areas such as Manila, Luzon and Calabarzon.
Satellite animation of Tropical Storm Co-may (Emong) across the northern Philippines.
(@CIRA_CSU / NOAA)
“We are tracking the devastation caused by the storms and floods and are deeply concerned for all those affected,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson stated. “The U.S. Embassy’s interagency team is coordinating closely with the Philippine government and the WFP to ensure aid reaches those in need.”
With more rain in the forecast, forecasters warn there is little immediate relief in sight and urged residents in flood-prone areas to stay alert and seek higher ground.
The country’s main monsoon season typically lasts into October and overlaps with the country’s peak typhoon season.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said it tracks an average of 20 tropical cyclones annually, with 8 to 9 that make landfall and pass through the archipelago.
According to government forecasters, 20 tropical cyclones are tracked in the Philippine Area of Responsibility every year.
(Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) / FOX Weather)
