The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.
Authorities stated that the massive storm caused extensive flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of people across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and residences being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel 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 his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another who died when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service stated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Recent Context and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing cyclones more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Researchers have found that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.
International estimates suggest that intense storms cause approximately US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines annually.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency last week because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
