The Philippines has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Officials stated that the massive storm triggered extensive flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million residents across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded rising waters reaching rooftop levels and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team rescued 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We saved him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm weakened to a severe tropical storm early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing tropical storms stronger and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Scientists report that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that severe weather events result in approximately millions in dollars in damage to the country every year.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.
