The Philippines was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching rooftop levels and residences being swept away by strong flows.
Our team rescued 14 individuals stranded atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” 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 and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and a second individual killed when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit shortly following another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Researchers have found that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that severe weather events result in an average of US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines annually.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
