Two successive typhoons battered the Philippines, leaving a trail of death and displacement, while Pope Leo XIV extended prayers and solidarity to the nation from thousands of miles away.
After reciting the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, November 9, the Pope prayed for the deceased, the injured, and those displaced by Typhoons Tino and Uwan.
“I express my closeness to the people of the Philippines who have been hit by a violent typhoon: I pray for the deceased and their families, as well as for the injured and displaced,” he said, echoing the message on his official X account.
The humanitarian crisis escalated over the weekend as Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-Wong) battered large parts of Luzon and Visayas, killing at least two people, injuring two, and displacing over 800,000, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Monday, November 10.
Authorities recorded the fatalities in Bicol (Region 5) and Eastern Visayas (Region 8), while the injured came from Bicol and Western Visayas. So far, no missing persons have been reported.
Uwan destroyed 89 houses and partially damaged 996 more, mostly in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga City, and Capiz. Strong winds, storm surges, and uprooted trees caused the destruction.
Typhoon Tino earlier tore through the central Philippines, claiming hundreds of lives, leaving more than 100 missing, and injuring countless others, with Cebu and Negros Island bearing the brunt of the devastation.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.