The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system triggered extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of millions of people across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and homes washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved fourteen people stranded atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. One resident also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, officials announced at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is expected to lose strength while heading north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for the missing persons were halted recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making cyclones more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms cause 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 extensive devastation from the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
