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The Philippines was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced over a million residents.

Officials stated that the powerful weather system triggered widespread flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of 1.4 million residents across the country.

Widespread Destruction and Emergency Operations

In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and homes being swept away by the powerful currents.

Our team saved 14 individuals stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”

As of Monday morning, officials confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another killed when her house collapsed on Samar island.

Storm Intensity and Forecast

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

According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.

The storm system is projected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.

Relief and Assessment

The national disaster response service stated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.

Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.

Previous Storms and Climate Impact

Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, where it killed five.

Searches for the missing persons were halted recently over risks for rescue workers.

Global warming is making 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 striking the islands has increased doubled in the past twenty years.

International estimates suggest that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in damage to the country annually.

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