The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials reported that the massive storm triggered extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million residents nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews documented floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and residences washed out by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. One resident also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials announced at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to lose strength while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit shortly following another severe storm, which killed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.
Researchers have found that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that severe weather events result in approximately millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration last week because of the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
