At least six people have died after a super typhoon barrelled through the Philippines, mere days after an earlier storm left more than 200 people dead.
Super typhoon Fung-wong brought floods and landslides, which caused most of the deaths. It also cut power across entire provinces, later weakening into a typhoon.
More than 1.4 million people were evacuated before the typhoon made landfall in the Philippines and it is now heading for Taiwan, where over 3,000 individuals have been moved to safety.
This was the 21st typhoon to strike the Southeast Asian nation this year, as many residents are still grappling with the aftermath of back-to-back disasters.
Fung-wong, locally named Uwan, hit Aurora province on Luzon with winds reaching around 185 km/h (115 mph) and gusts peaking at 230 km/h.
The Philippines' meteorological agency had previously warned of severe winds and the risk of life-threatening storm surges from this intense typhoon.
In Cabanatuan, a city significantly impacted, residents rushed to secure their belongings as floodwaters inundated their homes.
While Fung-wong's wind speeds didn’t reach record levels, the sheer volume of rainfall resulted in substantial damage, with nearly 4,100 homes affected.
Local citizen Mercidita Adriano shared that her family had prepared in advance but still suffered roof damage as they sheltered from the storm.
Large regions remain underwater, though water levels have begun to recede.
This catastrophe follows closely behind typhoon Kalmaegi, which recently afflicted the same region and left many in disarray. In September, Cebu experienced a significant magnitude 6.9 earthquake.
While the Philippines is accustomed to natural disasters, the frequency and severity of these recent events are unprecedented, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which highlights the urgent need for global assistance to mitigate further losses and aid recovery efforts.
