Marcos calls out climate change for recent Fatal flooding in Manila

• The storm has killed at least 14 people and affected over 1.1 million people in the Philippines.
• Marcos joined relief efforts and distributed food parcels to those hardest hit by the floods.
• Activists are demanding the passage of bills related to climate justice and accountability.

On Thursday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that climate change was responsible for the severe floods that submerged the capital, Manila. Heavy rains from Typhoon Gaemi triggered the deadly deluge and landslides.

Typhoon Gaemi, known as Carina in the Philippines, did not make landfall but intensified seasonal monsoon rains, causing landslides and flooding over the past few days. This situation forced authorities to declare a state of calamity in the capital region, which is home to roughly 15 million people.

Typhoon Gaemi has killed at least 14 people and affected more than 1.1 million people in the Southeast Asian nation.

On Thursday, Marcos joined relief efforts and distributed food parcels to those hardest hit by the floods in Manila.

“I wanted to see what the situation was. I was right; it’s very different reading a piece of paper than actually seeing what the people have to go through,” Marcos said.

“This is what the effects of climate change are.”

Philippine climate activists are renewing their calls for action, highlighting the devastating effects of Typhoon Gaemi.

“Typhoon Carina highlights the extreme weather impact being experienced in the world, and especially in the Philippines. It just emphasizes that our country is at the forefront of the climate crisis,” Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Khevin Yu told Arab News.

“It is really important for the Philippines to demand climate justice. So, this has been echoed by President Marcos, but we are pushing him to do more.”

Activists are demanding the passage of bills related to climate justice and accountability. Yu emphasized the need to include Filipinos in discussions and urged officials to advance energy transition plans.

Jashaf Shamir Lorenzo, head of policy development and research at BAN Toxics Philippines, stated that Typhoon Gaemi sent a “very clear” message.

“Climate targets that have long been ignored by developed countries are impacting our countries … and this will only get worse unless we call for accountability. We call for actions on the end of not only the Philippines, but these developed countries who are contributing a lot to climate change,” Lorenzo told Arab News.

“Extreme weather conditions have been becoming more common,” he said. “This is only going to get worse if we do not address all the fundamental issues that we have.”

The Philippines experiences around 20 storms and typhoons each year, but the changing climate is making these storms more unpredictable and extreme.

In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded, killed more than 6,000 people or left them missing and displaced millions in central Philippines. In 2021, Super Typhoon Rai, known locally as Odette, claimed the lives of over 200 people.

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