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The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.

Authorities reported that the massive storm triggered extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million residents across the country.

Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations

In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded rising waters reaching the tops of houses and homes washed out by the powerful currents.

Our team rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. One resident frantically contacted us, saying his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We saved him along with four family members.”

By Monday, authorities announced two fatalities: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.

Typhoon Strength and Forecast

The intense storm was downgraded to a severe tropical storm early Monday 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 continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.

Relief and Assessment

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

Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.

Recent Context and Environmental Factors

The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing prior to advancing to Vietnam, where it killed five.

Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.

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

Scientists report that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled in the past twenty years.

Global assessments indicate that severe weather events cause an average of millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines annually.

The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.