The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Officials reported that the massive storm triggered extensive sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the relocation of millions of people nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented rising waters reaching the tops of houses and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved fourteen people who were trapped on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit shortly following another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Researchers report that the frequency of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has risen doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration last week because of the severe damage from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
