MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Typhoon Talim has weakened slightly after battering the northern Philippines and is now moving over the South China Sea, leaving behind a grim trail of destruction. The death toll from the powerful storm has risen to at least 15, with rescue teams still searching for several others reported missing amid devastating floods and landslides.
The typhoon, which made landfall on Wednesday as a powerful Category 3-equivalent storm, unleashed hours of torrential rain and ferocious winds on the island of Luzon. While the storm's core has now passed, its vast rain bands continue to affect the region, complicating ongoing search, rescue, and relief operations.
The majority of the fatalities were reported in remote, mountainous provinces where entire villages were inundated by flash floods or buried under massive landslides. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that heavy, sustained rainfall saturated the soil, leading to the collapse of hillsides onto homes in several communities.
"Our teams are working tirelessly, but access to some of the hardest-hit areas is extremely difficult," said a civil defense official in a televised briefing. "Many roads and bridges have been washed out, and communication lines are still down. We are trying to reach these isolated communities by air, but the weather remains a challenge."
More than 50,000 people remain in temporary evacuation centers, primarily schools and government buildings, after fleeing their homes in low-lying and coastal areas. The initial assessments point to severe damage to agriculture, particularly rice and corn fields which were ready for harvest, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in the region.
Storm Tracks Toward Taiwan
Having crossed Luzon, Typhoon Talim is now over the warm waters of the South China Sea. Meteorological agencies, including the Philippines' PAGASA, are forecasting that the storm will likely regain some of its strength as it tracks northwest.
In response, Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau has issued sea and land warnings. Authorities are urging residents in vulnerable areas to prepare for strong winds and heavy rainfall. Ferry services to outlying islands have been suspended, and airlines are advising travelers to check for potential flight cancellations later in the week.
After passing Taiwan, the storm is expected to continue towards southeastern China, adding to what has been an active and destructive typhoon season in the Western Pacific.
