The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system caused widespread flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of millions of residents nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded rising waters reaching rooftop levels and homes being swept away by strong flows.
Our team saved 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. “A father also called in panic, 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 confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to lose strength as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, which killed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for prior to advancing to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended recently over risks for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is causing cyclones stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Scientists report that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms result in approximately millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency last week due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
