🔗 Share this article

The Philippines was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.

Officials reported that the powerful weather system triggered extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of millions of people nationwide.

Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts

In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented rising waters reaching rooftop levels and homes being swept away by strong flows.

“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. One resident frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off 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 killed after her home gave way on Samar island.

Typhoon Strength and Forecast

The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.

According to the state weather service, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts peaked at more than 275 km/h.

The storm system is projected to lose strength as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.

Response and Recovery

The country’s emergency management agency stated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.

Approximately thousands of shelters were activated to accommodate 92,000 families.

Recent Context and Environmental Factors

Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.

Searches for the missing persons were halted recently over risks to emergency personnel.

Global warming is causing tropical storms more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.

Researchers have found that the frequency of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% over the last two decades.

Global assessments suggest that intense storms result in approximately US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines every year.

The Philippine president declared a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.