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The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.

Authorities stated that the massive storm caused widespread sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of millions of people nationwide.

Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts

In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and residences being swept away by the powerful currents.

“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”

As of Monday morning, officials confirmed two fatalities: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual killed after her home gave way in eastern Samar.

Typhoon Strength and Projected Path

The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning while moving over the main island, where the capital is located.

Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.

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

Relief and Assessment

The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.

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

Previous Storms and Climate Impact

Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, which killed at least 224 people and left dozens unaccounted for prior to advancing toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.

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

The climate crisis is making tropical storms stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines this year.

Researchers report that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.

International estimates indicate that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage to the country annually.

The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration last week due to the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.