Natural Disasters

Typhoon Ambo increases challenges for Philippines during COVID-19

Typhoon Vongfong, known locally as Ambo, made landfall in the Philippines on May 14, 2020, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people during a lockdown over the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

DTE Staff
Local government officials and residents appealed for help after the landfall killed four and devastated parts of the country, according to local media reports. The municipality of Catubig in northern Samar declared a state of calamity in the aftermath of the typhoon. Aerial photos show the flooding in the area — known as northern Samar’s main area for rice production. Photo: Catubig Vice Mayor Dex Galit
The sangguniang bayan (municipal council) of the city passed an emergency resolution intending to use its calamity fund, after the mayor’s submission of a rapid damage assessment report, according to media reports. The city has a population of 33,000. Photo: Catubig Vice Mayor Dex Galit
In eastern Samar, the typhoon caused severe damage. The mayor of Jipapad, a small town in the area, raised appeals for help and said his constituents had no food or clean water. The Philippines now faces a dual challenge, with the onset of the typhoon season and controlling COVID-19. Photo: Renzel John Copico
Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan said there were 10,000 evacuees because of the powerful typhoon. Government officials noted the difficulty of maintaining social-distancing in evacuation centres in the area, reported news channel CNN. Photo: Renzel John Copico
Isolation facilities for COVID-19 patients were also destroyed in the typhoon, said Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone. He said the biggest issue at hand was how funding for new centres and construction will take place in the aftermath of the typhoon. The towns of Jipapad and Maslog were inaccessible because of uprooted trees blocking roads, he added. Photo: Ben Evardone / Facebook