The Philippines has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Authorities reported that the massive storm triggered widespread flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, 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 rescued 14 individuals stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, officials confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the main island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts peaked at over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit shortly following another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for prior to advancing to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is causing tropical storms stronger and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Scientists have found that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates indicate that severe weather events result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage to the country every year.
The nation’s leader issued an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
