Typhoon Goni: Over 1.6 million people directly affected in the Philippines

Typhoon Goni was the most powerful storm to hit the Philippines since Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.  With sustained winds of up to 251km/h, this recent typhoon caused flash flood and landslides, took out power supplies, bridges and roads and caused widespread damage to buildings and farmland. 

According to initial assessments, up to 90 percent of homes have been damaged or destroyed in some communities on Catanduanes Island, which bore the brunt of the typhoon.

Many of these communities impacted had already been hit hard by earlier storms that followed the similar path.

The Philippines is struck by about 20 typhoons a year, with climate change intensifying the effect of the storms. Its national weather agency has warned that yet another tropical cyclone, Atsani, is gathering strength behind Goni and could become the nineteenth extreme weather event to hit the country this year. 

It is expected there will be a further one to three typhoons in the Philippines in November and two or three more in December this year.

Experienced in responding to typhoons, Philippine Red Cross pre-positioned emergency response teams, first aid, hygiene kits and other relief supplies as the storm approached. Philippine Red Cross was also at the forefront of coordinated evacuation efforts which saw almost half a million people in the typhoon’s path preemptively evacuated to safer ground.

In the immediate aftermath of the typhoon, the local Red Cross teams were on the ground, conducting search and rescue operations, providing first aid and medical support and distributing relief items. You can find up to date information about their activities on the ground on their official Twitter account.

Philippines Red Cross is working with local authorities and partners to conduct needs and damage assessments ahead of further relief and livelihoods support in the coming days and weeks, as well as supporting communities to recover in the longer term.

In addition to the 750,000 Swiss Francs it has released to support immediate relief of people affected, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an Emergency Appeal for 3.5 million Swiss Francs to fund relief and recovery efforts for an estimated 80,000 people. 

For more information or request for interviews with key spokespeople in the Philippines, enquiries can be made via communications@redcross.org.nz or 04 495 0139.