The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Authorities reported that the massive storm caused widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and residences washed out by the powerful currents.
Our team saved fourteen people stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident 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, officials announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength 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 have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing were halted recently over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Researchers report that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled over the last two decades.
International estimates indicate that intense storms result in an average of millions in dollars in losses to the country annually.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency last week due to the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
