The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials reported that the massive storm triggered widespread flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million people across the country.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching rooftop levels and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved 14 individuals stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning on the island and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is expected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for prior to advancing toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making tropical storms more intense and common. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers report that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has increased doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
