The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system caused extensive sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million residents across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team rescued 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and another killed when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest 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 lose strength while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service stated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to 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 stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Scientists have found that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that severe weather events cause an average of US$3.5 million in losses to the country every year.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
