The Philippines has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials reported that the massive storm triggered extensive sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million people across the country.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded floodwaters reaching rooftop levels and residences being swept away by strong flows.
Our team rescued 14 individuals stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident also called in panic, saying his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, authorities announced two fatalities: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual who died when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing tropical storms more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause an average of US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency last week due to the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
