The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system triggered widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of millions of residents across the country.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and residences washed out by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued 14 individuals stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official stated. One resident frantically contacted us, saying his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, officials confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
Per meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for those still missing had to be suspended recently over risks to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is making cyclones more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers have found that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen doubled in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that severe weather events result in approximately US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
