The Philippines has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the massive storm caused widespread flash flooding, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of millions of people across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and homes washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”
By Monday, authorities announced two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual killed when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The super typhoon was downgraded to a severe tropical storm early Monday while moving over the main island, where the capital is located.
According to meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making cyclones more intense and common. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that severe weather events cause approximately millions in dollars in damage to the country annually.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency last week due to the extensive devastation from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.
