The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials reported that the massive storm caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of millions of residents across the country.
Widespread Destruction and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and residences being swept away by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued fourteen people who were trapped on the roof surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual who died when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the main island, home to the national capital.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing 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 hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers have found that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has risen doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause an average of US$3.5 million in damage to the country annually.
The nation’s leader issued an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
