The Philippines was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials reported that the massive storm caused extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million residents across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and homes being swept away by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued fourteen people stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. “A father also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning on the island and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning while moving over the main island, home to the national capital.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is making cyclones stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms result in approximately US$3.5 million in damage to the country every year.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
