🔗 Share this article

The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.

Officials reported that the massive storm caused extensive sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million residents nationwide.

Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts

In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and residences being swept away by the powerful currents.

“Our personnel rescued fourteen people stranded 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 saved him and four relatives.”

By Monday, officials confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual killed after her home gave way in eastern Samar.

Storm Intensity and Forecast

The super typhoon was downgraded to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.

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 continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.

Response and Recovery

The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.

Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.

Recent Context and Environmental Factors

The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people with dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.

Searches for those still missing were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.

Global warming is causing cyclones stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.

Researchers report that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.

Global assessments indicate that severe weather events cause approximately millions in dollars in damage to the country every year.

The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.