The Philippines has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.
Authorities reported that the massive storm triggered widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of millions of residents nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and homes washed out by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father frantically contacted us, 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, officials announced two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended recently over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making tropical storms more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms cause approximately US$3.5 million in losses to the country annually.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
