Media CenterCRS Plans Emergency Response to Typhoon Koppu

Updated October 21, 2015
11:30 am

Bringing torrential rainfall to the northern Philippines over the course of several days, Typhoon Koppu, known locally as Lando, has resulted in province-wide power outages, dozens of road closures, and damage to houses and infrastructure.

According to the government, nearly 993,000 people have been affected by the slow-moving typhoon, which includes approximately 103,400 people who continue to stay in evacuation centers in the hardest-hit areas.  While the full extent of the damage continues to be assessed, some 12,500 houses were damaged, and dozens of roads and bridges were impaired due to landslides and flooding.

The storm made landfall Sunday morning, October 18 in Casiguran town in Aurora province, which is a rural, sparsely populated area located on the nation’s largest island of Luzon.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS), in coordination with Caritas Philippines, is planning a response to the disaster that will include food distributions as well as distributions of household relief items, water and hygiene supplies, shelter kits, and other emergency necessities.

“As we continue to assess the damage, we are working closely with our Church partners to address the immediate needs of those most affected by the storm,” says Joe Curry, country representative for CRS in the Philippines. “The risk of more landslides due to continued flooding remains high.” 

Donate Now to assist survivors of Typhoon Koppu.