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.
Authorities reported that the massive storm caused widespread flash flooding, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of millions of residents nationwide.
Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams documented rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team rescued fourteen people stranded atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We saved him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and another killed after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the main island, home to the national capital.
Per 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 projected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for those still missing had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is causing cyclones more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers report that the rate of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen doubled over the last two decades.
International estimates indicate that intense storms result in an average of millions in dollars in damage to the country every year.
The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
