The Philippines has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials reported that the massive storm caused extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million residents across the country.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded floodwaters reaching rooftop levels and residences washed out by strong flows.
“Our personnel saved fourteen people stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father also called in panic, saying his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We saved him and four relatives.”
By Monday, authorities announced at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and another who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, 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 expected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Recent Context and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended recently over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is causing tropical storms more intense and common. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers have found that the rate of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms cause an average of US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president declared a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
