The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials reported that the massive storm caused extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million residents across the country.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams documented floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and homes being swept away by strong flows.
Our team saved fourteen people who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another killed after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to lose strength as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing were halted recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is causing tropical storms stronger 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 increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
