The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system caused extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of millions of residents nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and homes being swept away by strong flows.
Our team saved fourteen people who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing cyclones more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Researchers report that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.
International estimates indicate that severe weather events result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage to the country annually.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency on Thursday due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
