Philippines

Overview

Typhoon Kalmaegi has made landfall in the Philippines. Heavy rain and dangerous winds may cause flash flooding and landslides. Transport, including airports and flights, may be disrupted. For queries about disrupted travel, please contact your airline or travel provider. Check local news and weather services for updates, and follow the instructions of local authorities, including any evacuation orders.

You can read more about what to do during severe weather on our natural disasters page.

There are more significant safety or security concerns in the Philippines than you would usually find in New Zealand. Terrorist attacks have happened, and there is also a threat of kidnapping and violent crime.

Other things that New Zealanders travelling or living in the Philippines should be aware of are:

• An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 has struck 11.13°N, 124.18°E - Offshore Cebu on 30 Sep 2025 at 09:59:45 PM. Damage and aftershocks may be expected. There are currently no active tsunami warnings but volcano warnings have been raised for Taal, Mayon, Kanlaon, and Bulusan. If you’re in the affected areas:
  • exercise caution
  • monitor local media for updates on the situation
  • follow the instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders
• Crime—watch out for petty crime, such as theft and drink-spiking, especially in urban centres and at night. Gun ownership is widespread and poorly regulated. Drive-by robberies (armed assailants riding tandem on motor scooter) are common and considered opportunistic, targeting victims walking alone and/or on streets with low foot-traffic, carrying bags, phones etc that are considered as easy targets. 
• Kidnapping—there is an ongoing threat of kidnapping throughout the Philippines, on land and at sea.  
• Civil unrest—demonstrations and protests are common and occasionally cause transport issues.
• Natural disasters and severe weather—typhoon season usually runs from June until December, with around 20 typhoons each year. Flooding and landslides can occur. The Philippines is located in an active seismic zone, and is prone to volcanic activity and earthquakes.

New Zealanders travelling or living in the Philippines should have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place that includes provision for medical evacuation by air.

See below for detailed travel advice.

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