At least two dead as Super Typhoon Fung-wong lashes Philippines | DW News

Key Concepts

• Super Typhoon Fun Wong (Fung Wong): A powerful typhoon that hit the Philippines, causing significant damage and loss of life.
• Typhoon Kalmei (Carmegi): A previous typhoon that struck the Philippines shortly before Fun Wong, exacerbating the vulnerability of affected regions.
• Climate Crisis: The overarching cause of increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events like super typhoons.
• Fossil Fuel Industry: Identified as a primary driver of the climate crisis.
• Climate Adaptation Projects: Measures taken to prepare for and cope with the impacts of climate change, such as flood control and robust evacuation centers.
• Corruption: A significant factor hindering effective climate adaptation in the Philippines, with funds diverted from crucial projects.
• Just Transition: A framework for ensuring that the shift away from fossil fuels is fair and equitable for workers and communities.
• Loss and Damage: The unavoidable impacts of climate change that cannot be adapted to or mitigated.
• Reparations: Financial and other forms of compensation for climate-related damages, particularly for vulnerable nations.
• Whole of Nation Approach: A comprehensive strategy to address the climate crisis, involving all sectors of society.

Super Typhoon Fun Wong's Impact on the Philippines

Fatalities and Displacement

Super Typhoon Fun Wong has resulted in at least two fatalities in the Philippines, impacting the country's northeastern islands with extreme winds and torrential rain. Over 1 million people have been displaced from vulnerable areas. This storm is the most significant to hit the Philippines this year, occurring just days after Typhoon Kalmei, which caused over 200 deaths earlier in the week.

Storm Intensity and Characteristics

Fun Wong reached super typhoon status before landfall, characterized by sustained winds of up to 185 km/h and gusts reaching 230 km/h. These conditions battered the northeastern coastal areas, leading to widespread power outages and forcing approximately one million people to evacuate. The storm, locally known as "Ulan," has a vast radius, spanning nearly the entire archipelago. Meteorologists warned of extensive flooding and potential river overflows due to the torrential rainfall.

Evacuation and Preparedness

Communities in the storm's path, such as in Katanduanes and Luzon, heeded evacuation orders. Residents in flood-prone areas, like those living near creeks, sought shelter in higher elevations or designated evacuation centers. For instance, one resident mentioned storing belongings at a higher elevation and at a relative's home, as their own home is prone to severe flooding during typhoons.

Impact on Recovery Efforts

The superstorm has forced the government to suspend ongoing recovery efforts from Typhoon Kalmei, which had already caused significant destruction and loss of life.

Storm Surges and Flooding

Journalist Ella Maid reported on flooded coastal areas, with storm surges reaching as high as 14 meters, sweeping away houses and boats. The immense rainfall from Fun Wong has led to overflowing dams and rivers, causing widespread flooding and landslides, mirroring the situation experienced in Cebu with Typhoon Kalmei.

Infrastructure Damage and Accessibility

Roads have become impassable due to downed electrical posts and uprooted trees caused by the severe winds.

Public Anxiety and Comparisons to Past Storms

There is a palpable sense of fear among residents, particularly in Manila, with grocery stores experiencing a surge in demand for supplies to last for a week. The current typhoon is being compared to Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which claimed over 6,000 lives, intensifying public anxiety. Local authorities are mandating evacuations in areas like Aurora, in the northeastern part of the Philippines, where Fun Wong made landfall.

Vulnerability Due to Previous Storms

Typhoon Kalmei, which battered the central Philippines, particularly Cebu, has left communities more vulnerable to Fun Wong. Weather officials indicate that due to Fun Wong's extensive size, areas in Cebu will still experience life-threatening floods and winds, necessitating continued evacuation. Residents from Cebu have expressed their readiness to evacuate again, prioritizing safety and avoiding further loss of life.

Causes and Perspectives on Vulnerability

Climate Activist's Perspective

Mitsy Janelle Tan, a Filipina climate activist based in Berlin, attributes the extreme intensity of typhoons like Fun Wong to the climate crisis, driven by the fossil fuel industry. While typhoons are a natural occurrence in the Philippines, the current level of intensity is considered abnormal and a direct consequence of human-induced climate change.

Corruption and Climate Adaptation

Tan highlights corruption scandals surrounding flood control projects in the Philippines. Diversion of funds intended for crucial climate adaptation projects leaves communities, especially the poor and marginalized, more vulnerable to climate impacts.

Call for Action at Climate Conferences

Tan emphasizes the need to address the fossil fuel industry and advocate for a just transition, funded through grants rather than loans. She stresses the importance of discussing loss and damage and reparations to ensure global adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Preparedness and Infrastructure Deficiencies

Inadequate Flood Control Projects

The preparedness of people and infrastructure in the Philippines is deemed insufficient. Corrupt practices have led to unfinished or unstable flood control projects, as seen in Cebu with the previous typhoon and expected with Fun Wong.

Substandard Evacuation Centers

Many evacuation centers are not purpose-built, often being repurposed gyms or churches that are themselves susceptible to flooding and damage. This also impacts the education of youth, as schools are frequently used as evacuation sites.

Need for Community-Specific Adaptation

Tan advocates for a deeper understanding of each community's specific needs to implement tailored adaptation projects. This requires increased investment in infrastructure, research, and adaptation industries.

Government Priorities

The government's prioritization of other economic aspects and militarization over climate adaptation is seen as a significant impediment. Tan calls for a "whole of nation approach" to address the climate crisis comprehensively, not just as an environmental issue.