The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities reported that the massive storm triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and residences washed out by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued fourteen people stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. One resident also called in panic, saying his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
According to the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is projected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters were activated to accommodate 92,000 families.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing cyclones more intense and common. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Researchers have found that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
International estimates indicate that severe weather events result in approximately US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines annually.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.
