The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and homes being swept away by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel saved 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
By Monday, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another who died 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.
According to meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The storm system 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 to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is making tropical storms stronger and common. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Scientists have found that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased by more than 100% over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms result in approximately US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader issued an emergency declaration last week due to the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
