The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Officials reported that the massive storm caused extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and homes washed out by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual killed when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
According to meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts peaked at over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to lose strength while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Recent Context and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for those still missing were halted on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making tropical storms more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Scientists report that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that severe weather events cause an average of US$3.5 million in damage to the country annually.
The Philippine president declared a state of emergency last week because of the severe damage from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
