The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced over a million residents.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system caused extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and residences being swept away by strong flows.
Our team rescued 14 individuals stranded atop a house engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. One resident also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. 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 after her home gave way on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for those still missing were halted recently over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones stronger and common. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers report that the rate of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause approximately US$3.5 million in damage to the country every year.
The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency last week because of the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
