The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Authorities reported that the powerful weather system triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the relocation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and homes washed out by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, authorities announced at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and another who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened 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 and left dozens unaccounted for prior to advancing to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is making cyclones 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 striking the islands has increased by more than 100% over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that severe weather events cause an average of US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.
