The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials reported that the massive storm caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of millions of people nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams recorded rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and homes being swept away by strong flows.
Our team saved fourteen people who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. One resident also called in panic, saying 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 at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing cyclones more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.
Researchers have found that the rate of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms cause an average of millions in dollars in losses for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration last week because of the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
