The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Authorities reported that the massive storm caused widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million residents across the country.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and residences being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel saved fourteen people who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official stated. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. 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.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the main island, where the capital is located.
According to the state weather service, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts peaked at over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making tropical storms more intense and common. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Scientists have found that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen doubled in the past twenty years.
International estimates indicate that intense storms cause an average of US$3.5 million in losses to the country every year.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the extensive devastation caused by the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.
