The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Authorities reported that the massive storm caused extensive sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million people across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams documented floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and homes washed out by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel saved 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
Per meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for the missing persons were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones more intense and common. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Scientists have found that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in losses to the country annually.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration last week because of the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
