The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials reported that the massive storm caused widespread sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of millions of people across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and homes being swept away by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel saved fourteen people stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”
By Monday, authorities confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning on the island and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
According to the state weather service, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is expected to lose strength while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is causing tropical storms stronger and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Researchers have found that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in losses to the country every year.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
