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The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced over a million residents.

Officials reported that the powerful weather system triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million people across the country.

Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations

In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and homes washed out by the powerful currents.

“Our personnel rescued fourteen people stranded atop a house engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. “A father also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”

By Monday, authorities announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual killed after her home gave way in eastern Samar.

Typhoon Strength and Forecast

The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.

Per the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.

The cyclone is projected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.

Response and Recovery

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

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

Previous Storms and Environmental Factors

Fung-wong struck shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed at least 224 people with another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, where it killed five.

Searches for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.

The climate crisis is causing tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation this year.

Researchers have found that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled over the last two decades.

International estimates suggest that intense storms result in approximately millions in dollars in losses to the country every year.

The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration last week due to the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.