Typhoon Co-May prompts school, government closures across Philippines

Schools and government offices in Philippines' Manila and 34 provinces were closed on July 25 as Typhoon Co-May intensified, bringing winds of up to 120 km/h and gusts reaching 150 km/h, local newspaper Inquirer reported.

The typhoon, which developed into a storm on July 24, is expected to move toward Northern Luzon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

Nearly 70 flights have been canceled due to the combined impact of the typhoon and the southwest monsoon, which continues to cause heavy rainfall across the country, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said.

In a statement, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged citizens to prioritise disaster preparation and long-term adaptation in the face of increasingly frequent storms.

“We are now having to think more of mitigation … What do we have to do when it [typhoon] comes again because it will come again,” Marcos said, according to ABS-CBN News.

The Philippines is still recovering from the devastating effects of recent storms, including Tropical Storm Wipha, which claimed 12 lives and displaced over 2.7 million people, with eight individuals still missing, Xinhua News reported.

Agricultural and infrastructure damage caused by these storms has reached an estimated $73 million, while flood warnings remain active in affected areas, the National Disaster Agency said.

Though Wipha exited the country on Saturday, monsoon rains persisted, worsened by Tropical Storms Francisco and Co-May. PAGASA warned that Co-May could strengthen into a typhoon before making landfall in the Ilocos Region, while Francisco is expected to leave the country by Thursday.

Authorities predict flooding, landslides, and other hazards, issuing flood warnings for Metro Manila and surrounding areas.

Co-May marks the fifth tropical cyclone to strike the Philippines this year, a country regularly exposed to around 20 typhoons annually.

By Sabina Mammadli