The Philippines has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials stated that the massive storm triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of millions of people nationwide.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching the tops of houses and residences being swept away by strong flows.
Our team rescued fourteen people who were trapped on the roof surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. “A father also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
By Monday, officials announced two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning while moving over the main island, home to the national capital.
According to the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency stated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is making cyclones more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers have found that the rate of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms result in approximately US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
