The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system triggered extensive flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of millions of people across the country.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and homes washed out by strong flows.
Our team rescued 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening as it moves north toward 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 temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones more intense and common. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Scientists report that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms cause an average of US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency last week due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
