The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the powerful weather system caused extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million residents across the country.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and homes washed out by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual who died when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts peaked at over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to lose strength while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing prior to advancing to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing were halted on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing tropical storms stronger and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers report that the rate of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
International estimates indicate that severe weather events cause approximately millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency last week due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
