The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system caused extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of millions of people nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and homes being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
By Monday, officials announced two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people with another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons were halted recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Scientists report that the rate of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen doubled over the last two decades.
International estimates indicate that severe weather events cause an average of US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines annually.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
