MANILA, Philippines — The northern Philippines experienced severe flooding, uprooted trees, and widespread power outages due to Typhoon Toraji, which has since weakened into a tropical storm and moved out to the South China Sea, according to officials as they prepare for another potential storm on the horizon.

The Philippines has been grappling with the aftermath of several severe weather events, including four consecutive typhoons and storms that have ravaged the northern region of Luzon over the past month. The latest storm, Toraji, has had a significant impact on both farming areas and local communities. Weather experts are monitoring a storm currently forming in the Pacific, which may intensify into another typhoon and approach the Philippines by Thursday.

So far, there have been no reported fatalities linked to Toraji.

Clearing operations are underway to remove debris such as fallen trees, electricity pylons, and landslides triggered by Toraji. These efforts are crucial to facilitate the delivery of essential supplies and aid to rescue those stranded in remote villages. Various disaster-response teams, including military personnel, police, and coast guard members, are working tirelessly to manage the challenges posed by the recent series of storms. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently assured the public that assistance is on the way for communities affected by Toraji, also known locally as Nika.

“Despite the ongoing stormy conditions, they are committed to clearing the way for our relief efforts,” President Marcos stated to reporters. “We are ready to assist and merely waiting for the weather to improve.” Notably, Marcos chose not to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum in Peru this week, preferring to oversee the governmental response to the disaster.

In the northern province of Cagayan, where the President had inspected damage from a prior typhoon just days earlier, officials reported that Toraji’s powerful winds and heavy rain inundated 25 villages across six towns. The floods rendered at least 22 bridges unusable, while the capital city of Tuguegarao and 13 other towns experienced significant power outages.

Ahead of Toraji’s landfall in the northeastern province of Aurora, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla ordered the evacuation of residents from approximately 2,500 vulnerable villages. He cautioned that the already saturated lands in Luzon pose a high risk for flash floods and landslides.

Schools were closed and inter-island ferry services, along with domestic flights, were suspended in regions threatened by Toraji, marking this as the 14th weather event to impact the Philippine archipelago this year.

The recent storms, including the last two typhoons and a tropical storm, have caused more than 160 fatalities, significantly damaged thousands of homes and agricultural lands, and affected over 9 million individuals, many of whom sought refuge in emergency shelters. Remarkably, Toraji dumped rainfall equivalent to one to two months’ worth in just 24 hours at certain locations.

In light of the overwhelming situation, the Philippines has received aid from the United States, its long-standing ally, as well as assistance from several Southeast Asian nations, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei, to deliver food, water, and essential supplies to the hard-hit northern regions.

The Philippines frequently faces about 20 typhoons and storms each year and is also prone to earthquakes, coupled with its location atop the Pacific Ring of Fire, which hosts over a dozen active volcanoes, rendering it one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to natural disasters.

One of the most devastating storms in recent memory was Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, noted as one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded, which resulted in over 7,300 people dead or missing, obliterated entire villages, and caused ships to crash into homes in the central Philippines.