🔗 Share this article

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 stated that the powerful weather system triggered extensive sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.

Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts

In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and homes washed out by the powerful currents.

“Our personnel saved fourteen people who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”

By Monday, officials confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.

Typhoon Strength and Projected Path

The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning while moving over the main island, where the capital is located.

According to meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.

The storm system is expected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.

Response and Recovery

The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.

Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres 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 with dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.

Search operations for the missing persons were halted on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.

The climate crisis is causing tropical storms stronger and common. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.

Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled over the last two decades.

International estimates indicate that intense storms result in approximately US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines annually.

The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the extensive devastation from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.