Typhoon Rai (Odette)

Overview

Super Typhoon Rai (locally named Odette) made landfall on December 16, 2021, with sustained winds of 195 km/h, making it the strongest typhoon to strike the Philippines that year. The storm made nine landfalls across the Visayas and Mindanao regions, causing catastrophic destruction in Siargao Island, Dinagat Islands, Southern Leyte, Bohol, and Cebu. Over 400 people were killed and nearly 4 million displaced. The typhoon destroyed over 1.5 million homes and caused widespread power outages lasting weeks. Communications infrastructure was severely damaged, hampering rescue efforts. Many affected areas were popular tourist destinations, and the economic impact was devastating to local communities dependent on tourism and fishing. International aid organizations mounted a large-scale response.