Tropical Storm Basyang, internationally designated as Penha, made a destructive landfall in the southern Philippines late Friday, triggering fatal landslides and forcing the mass evacuation of thousands of residents across Mindanao and the Visayas. The storm, which struck the coast of Surigao del Sur, has left at least four people dead and disrupted travel and power for dozens of communities.
According to disaster management officials, the fatalities occurred in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, when a landslide buried a newly constructed home in Barangay Agusan. The victims were identified as members of a single family, including two adults and two children. Local authorities reported that the landslide was triggered by continuous heavy rainfall which compromised the structural integrity of the hillside. Rescuers were able to pull other family members from the debris, who were subsequently transported to an evacuation center for safety and medical assessment.
The storm made its official landfall over Bayabas, Surigao del Sur, at approximately 11:50 p.m. packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour with gusts reaching up to 90 kilometers per hour. As it tracked northwest toward Agusan del Norte, it weakened into a tropical depression, though it continued to dump significant rainfall across the region. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that the weather system has affected more than 6,000 people across 21 barangays in the Caraga region alone.
Thousands of displaced residents have sought refuge in over 100 government-run evacuation centers. In Surigao City and the municipalities of Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tandag City, families were moved from low-lying areas prone to flash flooding. Local disaster offices noted that while the storm’s winds were not as severe as previous typhoons, the slow-moving nature of the system increased the risk of soil saturation and subsequent landslides in mountainous corridors.
Logistical disruptions have been widespread, with the Philippine Coast Guard suspending operations at 41 seaports throughout Western Visayas and the Caraga region. This move left more than 2,000 passengers stranded at various terminals. Additionally, several domestic flights to Siargao and other regional hubs were canceled due to poor visibility and turbulent weather conditions.
Government response efforts are currently underway, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development mobilizing food packs and modular tents for affected families. Power outages remain a challenge in several provinces where strong winds downed electrical lines. Weather forecasters expect the system to pass close to Bohol and Cebu as it continues its trajectory through the central Philippines, maintaining its status as a tropical depression while still posing a threat of localized flooding. A