The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities reported that the massive storm caused widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of millions of residents across the country.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews documented floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and residences being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued fourteen people stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. “A father also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
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.
According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts peaked at over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to lose strength as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated 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 Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, which killed at least 224 people and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is making tropical storms stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Researchers have found that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has risen doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that severe weather events result in approximately millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines annually.
The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
