• Thousands evacuate as Tropical Storm Fengshen approaches the Philippines.
• Fengshen is expected to bring strong winds and coastal flooding risk.
• The storm follows a series of earthquakes in the country that claimed at least 87 lives.
• Evacuations are routine for residents in high-risk coastal areas.
• Climate change is intensifying the power of storms in the region.

As Tropical Storm Fengshen approaches the Philippines, thousands of residents have fled their homes along the Pacific coast in anticipation of coastal flooding, with evacuations affecting the impoverished island of Catanduanes and the eastern province of Albay. Weather experts have forecasted landfall near Catanduanes, with gusts expected to reach up to 90 kilometers an hour. A second landfall is anticipated on Luzon, the country's main island, the following day, according to Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.

Over 27,000 residents from Albay and Catanduanes have already moved to safer ground as local disaster officials activated evacuation plans for high-risk regions. Authorities are particularly focused on areas vulnerable to coastal flooding, landslides, and severe weather, driven by the region's history of being struck by powerful cyclones, according to The Jakarta Post and South China Morning Post.

Fengshen is expected to bring heavy rainfall and waves measuring up to 2 meters, which poses a "minimal to moderate risk" of flooding along coastal areas. This storm forms part of a concerning trend, as scientists have noted an increase in storm intensity linked to climate change, and ongoing challenges lie ahead as the country is still grappling with the aftermath of recent earthquakes that resulted in at least 87 fatalities, according to Al Jazeera, Channel News Asia, and South China Morning Post.

Authorities have put preparedness measures in place, underscoring the well-rehearsed nature of evacuations in the region, which frequently experiences landfalls from cyclones forming in the western Pacific. Local officials have shown readiness to respond to the evolving circumstances and maintain safety in the hazardous areas affected by the storm, according to Al Jazeera, The Jakarta Post, and South China Morning Post.