Typhoon Rai

Carnage: 375 dead and 630,000 displaced typhoon Rai rips through the Philippines, after a devastating typhoon tore through the Philippines, causing “complete carnage” and leaving over 630,0000 seeing shelter over in schools, churches, and camps ahead of Christmas. Typhoon Rai, Which hit the country last week, is the strongest the archipelago has faced this year, with peak winds reaching 146 mph. It has left chaos in its wake, with roughly a 2.2million people directly affected. According to the red cross, the numbers known to be dead or injured are increasing. The fury of this typhoon is something we have not seen for years. The typhoon struck as the country found its feet after the coronavirus pandemic. The Philippines had been hit hardest by the virus in the Asia- Pacific region, recording over 2.8 million cases and more than 50,000 deaths.

However, vaccinations had ramped up in recent months, with 51 percent of the population receiving one jab, and Covid-19 cases were decreasing. In the past few days, the country saw its first reported cases of the omicron variant. There have been many frustrations among the people in the Philippines as the surge of the omicron variant came about. While they have to handle the storm, they also have to handle the new variant. Emergency reports have been reported in the coastal areas as homes, hospitals, schools, and community buildings have been ripped to shreds. Communication lines remain down, hampering relief efforts and meaning many families are left unsure about whether loved ones have survived. Some regions are inaccessible due to landslides and mudslides. Nine different islands separated by the distance have also been hit by the storm by ferocious winds and floods, which first hit the southeast coast on Thursday. At least 375 people have died, making it to the deadliest tropical cyclone of 2021m. According to the UN, 630,000 have been displaced. The food supply is running low. In a few days, these necessities will run out. Over 200 areas have suffered power outages, and nine percent have been restored online. It is estimated that some cities may be without electricity for up to three months. As the storm gets critically dangerous, climate change will continue to make storms more intense in the future. Warmer seas mean more energy is created.