THE death toll from Typhoon Molave has risen to 22 in the Philippines, a government disaster agency said today, while the country’s weather bureau announced another storm is on the way.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in an updated report that four were still missing and 39 injured after the typhoon pounded the country from Sunday to Tuesday, reported Xinhua news agency.

Typhoon Molave, the 17th tropical cyclone to lash the Philippines this year, displaced over 775,513 people in 2,469 villages in seven regions in the main island of Luzon and central Philippines, and triggered flooding and landslides before blowing out of the archipelago early this week.

The agency said more than 16,000 affected villagers were either staying in 150 evacuation centres or with relatives.

Strong winds and rain from Typhoon Molave have left extensive damage on crops and infrastructure, the agency said.

Typhoon Molave slammed into the country’s eastern coast on Sunday night, bringing heavy rains and strong winds that toppled trees and power lines.

The Philippines was still reeling from the flooding triggered by Tropical Storm Saudel, which barrelled through the country last week.

Meanwhile, PAGASA, the country’s weather bureau, said today that the Philippines is bracing for Typhoon Goni, which is forecast to make landfall on the eastern shore of the Luzon island on Sunday night or Monday morning. Some of the provinces pummelled by Molave are in its path.

About 20 typhoons and tropical storms batter the Philippines each year.

The archipelago of 110 million people has frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world due to its location in the “Pacific Ring of Fire” and the Pacific typhoon belt.

The Philippines lost 463 billion pesos (RM39.7 billion) in damages to natural disasters from 2010 to 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Wednesday. – Bernama, October 30, 2020.