The Philippines was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Authorities stated that the massive storm triggered extensive flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded floodwaters reaching rooftop levels and residences washed out by the powerful currents.
Our team saved 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. “A father also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”
By Monday, officials confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Recent Context and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is making cyclones more intense and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Scientists report that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms cause an average of US$3.5 million in losses to the country every year.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and the expected damage from Fung-wong.