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The Philippines has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.

Officials stated that the massive storm caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the relocation of 1.4 million people across the country.

Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts

In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and residences being swept away by the powerful currents.

“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”

As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.

Typhoon Strength and Forecast

The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.

Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.

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

Response and Recovery

The national disaster response service stated it was still working to assess damage on buildings and roads.

Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.

Recent Context and Climate Impact

The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people with another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.

Searches for those still missing were halted recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.

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

Researchers have found that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has increased doubled over the last two decades.

Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in losses to the country every year.

The Philippine president issued a state of emergency last week due to the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.