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 reported that the massive storm 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 Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and residences being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, officials confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning on the island and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
According to the state weather service, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts peaked at over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to lose strength as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Recent Context and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, which killed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for the missing persons were halted recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers have found that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms cause an average of US$3.5 million in losses to the country annually.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration last week due to the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
