The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system caused widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and homes washed out by strong flows.
Our team rescued 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official stated. “A father also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning while moving over the main island, home to the national capital.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service stated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, which killed at least 224 people and left dozens unaccounted for prior to advancing to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing tropical storms more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Scientists report that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
