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

Officials stated that the massive storm triggered extensive sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of millions of residents nationwide.

Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts

In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and residences washed out by the powerful currents.

“Our personnel saved 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house 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 on the island and another who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.

Storm Intensity and Projected Path

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

Per the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts peaked at more than 275 km/h.

The cyclone is expected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.

Relief and Assessment

The country’s emergency management agency stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.

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

Previous Storms and Climate Impact

The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for prior to advancing to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.

Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended recently over risks for rescue workers.

The climate crisis is causing tropical storms more intense and common. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.

Scientists report that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.

International estimates indicate that intense storms result in approximately US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.

The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.