The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities reported that the massive storm caused widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million people across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and homes washed out by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. “A father also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We saved him and four relatives.”
By Monday, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
According to meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed at least 224 people with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing were halted recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that severe weather events cause approximately US$3.5 million in losses to the country every year.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
