The Philippines was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system triggered extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, prompting the relocation of millions of people nationwide.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and homes washed out by strong flows.
“Our personnel saved fourteen people who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident frantically contacted us, saying his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We saved him and four relatives.”
By Monday, authorities confirmed two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
According to the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing were halted recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is making tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Scientists have found that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in damage to the country annually.
The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
