The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the massive storm triggered extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of millions of people nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and homes washed out by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. “A father also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We saved him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, officials announced two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual who died when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency indicated 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, which killed at least 224 people with another 135 missing prior to advancing to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing were halted on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is causing tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Scientists report that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
