The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Authorities reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of millions of residents across the country.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and residences washed out by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual killed when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
According to the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts peaked at over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency stated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for those still missing were halted on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is causing cyclones stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Scientists report that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has risen doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that severe weather events result in an average of millions in dollars in losses for the Philippines annually.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
