Super Typhoon Rai formed on December 12, 2021, and made landfall in the southern Philippines earlier this week.

Villages and settlements on the islands were reportedly heavily damaged as the super Typhoon made landfall throughout the Philippines, reaching a peak intensity of 260km/h on December 16 on its approach to the Philippines.

The Typhoon was the strongest to hit the Philippines this year as it devastated villages and broke communication lines along its path, making rescue and aid operations even harder.

The Typhoon also displaced nearly half a million people and left widespread devastation in Cebu, Leyte, and Surigao del Norte, including the popular Siargao surfing destination and Dinagat Islands.

People were also reported begging for food and water due to supplies running out as relief efforts are not enough. The local media also reported the deaths of two people in Siargao Island due to dehydration.

Millions of people have also been left without power, and cell phone connectivity after the devastation, the governor of Bohol Arthur Yap said his province alone had more than 1.2 million without power or connectivity. Yap also warned the Philippines president of looting and asked him to deploy soldiers and the police to patrol the island.

According to the United Nations, 13 million people are expected to be affected in the Philippines from the effects of the Typhoon. The Typhoon was estimated to have caused at least ₱30.9 billion ($619 million) in damages across the Philippines.

President Rodrigo Duterte has also committed about $40 million to help relief efforts in Typhoon hit areas while the Philippine Red Cross launched an emergency appeal for $21.7 million.

“Filipinos are rallying together with courage, but after losing everything in this savage storm, international support will enable hundreds of thousands of people to rebuild their homes and decimated livelihoods,” said Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross.