The Deadliest Typhoons in Philippine History
The Philippines has endured some of the deadliest tropical cyclones on record. Here are the storms that left the deepest scars, and the common threads that made them so lethal.
What makes a typhoon deadly
The deadliest storms are rarely the windiest alone. Storm surge, landslides on steep terrain, and flooding of crowded river basins do most of the killing — especially where warnings arrive late or their danger is underestimated.
Notable deadly typhoons
Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), 2013
The deadliest in modern Philippine history, killing more than 6,300 people, chiefly through catastrophic storm surge in Tacloban and the eastern Visayas. See the full account on our Haiyan page.
Typhoon Bopha (Pablo), 2012
An unusually far-south, powerful typhoon that struck Mindanao — a region less used to direct hits — triggering deadly flash floods and landslides that killed well over a thousand people.
Tropical Storm Thelma (Uring), 1991
Though not an intense typhoon, Thelma caused devastating flooding in Ormoc City on Leyte, where thousands died in a matter of hours — a stark reminder that even a modest storm can be catastrophic over vulnerable terrain.
Typhoon Rai (Odette), 2021
A late-season super typhoon that raked the Visayas and Mindanao, killing hundreds and causing widespread destruction across islands including Siargao, Bohol, and Cebu.
The Haiphong typhoon, 1881
One of the deadliest tropical cyclones in world history, it devastated the region including parts of the northern Philippines and, by some historical estimates, killed on the order of tens of thousands across its path.
The common threads
Across these disasters, storm surge and rain-driven flooding — not wind alone — caused most deaths, and the toll was highest where communities were low-lying, densely settled, and unprepared for the specific hazard. Modern warnings, evacuation, and the fifth wind signal introduced after Haiyan are all aimed at breaking that pattern.