The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of millions of residents nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters reaching rooftop levels and homes being swept away by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel saved fourteen people who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, officials announced two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the main island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted recently over risks for rescue workers.
Global warming is making tropical storms more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen doubled in the past twenty years.
International estimates indicate that severe weather events cause approximately US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency last week due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
