The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials stated that the massive storm triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of millions of people nationwide.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching the tops of houses and homes washed out by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued 14 individuals stranded atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, officials confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
According to the state weather service, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people with another 135 missing prior to advancing to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing were halted recently over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is causing cyclones more intense and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.
Scientists have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% over the last two decades.
International estimates suggest that intense storms result in approximately millions in dollars in losses for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration last week because of the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
