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.
Officials stated that the massive storm caused widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of millions of people across the country.
Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching the tops of houses and residences being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel saved 14 individuals stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. One resident frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, officials confirmed two fatalities: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The intense storm was downgraded to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to continue weakening while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing were halted recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones more intense and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers have found that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that severe weather events cause approximately US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president declared a state of emergency last week due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
