The Philippines was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the powerful weather system triggered extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million residents nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and residences being swept away by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued fourteen people stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and another who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday while moving over 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 cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service stated it was still working to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing cyclones more intense and common. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers report that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen doubled in the past twenty years.
International estimates indicate that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency on Thursday due to the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
