The island nation was severely impacted 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 caused extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of millions of people across the country.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official stated. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him and four relatives.”
By Monday, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another killed when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service stated it was still working 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
The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is causing tropical storms more intense and common. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Scientists report that the rate of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.
International estimates suggest that intense storms cause an average of US$3.5 million in damage to the country every year.
The Philippine president declared a state of emergency last week because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
