The Philippines has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Authorities reported that the massive storm caused extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the relocation of millions of people across the country.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and homes being swept away by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued 14 individuals stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. One resident also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”
By Monday, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the main island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts peaked at over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency indicated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to accommodate 92,000 families.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit shortly following another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons were halted on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.
Global warming is making cyclones stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers report that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has risen doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause an average of millions in dollars in losses for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency on Thursday due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
