The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of millions of residents nationwide.
Widespread Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and residences being swept away by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued fourteen people stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident also called in panic, saying his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We saved him and four relatives.”
By Monday, authorities confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning on the island and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
According to the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons were halted on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is causing cyclones stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled over the last two decades.
International estimates suggest that severe weather events cause an average of US$3.5 million in damage to the country every year.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the severe damage from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.
