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The Philippines has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.

Officials reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of 1.4 million people across the country.

Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts

In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and residences being swept away by the powerful currents.

“Our personnel saved 14 individuals stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”

As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another who died when her house collapsed on Samar island.

Storm Intensity and Projected Path

The intense storm was downgraded to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.

Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at 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 country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to assess damage on buildings and roads.

Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.

Recent Context and Climate Impact

Fung-wong struck shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.

Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.

The climate crisis is causing tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.

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

International estimates indicate that intense storms cause an average of millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.

The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from the new storm.