The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the powerful weather system triggered widespread flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters reaching rooftop levels and homes washed out by strong flows.
“Our personnel saved 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts peaked at over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to lose strength while heading north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, which killed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is causing cyclones stronger and common. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms result in an average of millions in dollars in losses to the country annually.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the extensive devastation caused by the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
