Thousands evacuate Philippine coast as Tropical Storm Fengshen approaches

"Thousands of residents of a Philippine island have fled their homes along the Pacific coast as weather experts warned of coastal flooding ahead of the approach of Tropical Storm Fengshen, rescue officials said. The eye of the storm was forecast to brush past Catanduanes, an impoverished island of 270,000 people, later on Saturday with gusts of up to 80km/h (50mph)."

"Fengshen will bring heavy rainfall, along with a minimal to moderate risk of coastal flooding from 1.2-metre (3.2-foot) waves being pushed ashore, the government weather service said. More than 9,000 residents of Catanduanes moved to safer ground, the provincial disaster office said, in an often-repeated drill on the island that has previously been the first major landmass hit by cyclones that form in the western Pacific Ocean."

"The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, striking disaster-prone areas where millions of impoverished people live. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful as the planet warms due to human-driven climate change. Fengshen comes as the country is still reeling from a series of major earthquakes and typhoons that killed dozens of people in recent weeks."

Tropical Storm Fengshen approached the Pacific coast, with its eye forecast to brush past Catanduanes and gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph). Weather services warned of heavy rainfall and a minimal to moderate risk of coastal flooding from 1.2-metre (3.2-foot) waves pushed ashore. More than 9,000 residents of Catanduanes relocated to safer ground as provincial authorities activated evacuation plans for coastal, low-lying and landslide-prone areas. Catanduanes often receives the first landfall of western Pacific cyclones and remains economically impoverished. The Philippines experiences about 20 storms and typhoons yearly, affecting millions living in poverty. Scientists link increasing storm intensity to human-driven climate warming. Fengshen arrived amid recent deadly earthquakes that caused multiple fatalities and triggered tsunami warnings.

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