The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials stated that the massive storm caused widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of people across the country.
Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters reaching rooftop levels and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. One resident frantically contacted us, saying his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, officials announced two fatalities: one from drowning on the island and another who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing were halted recently over risks for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing cyclones stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Scientists report that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency last week because of the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
