What lessons have been learned for future extreme weather events? | DW News

Key Concepts

• Super Typhoon Fun Wong (locally known as Ompong): A powerful tropical cyclone that impacted the Philippines.
• Typhoon Kalmegi: A previous storm that caused significant casualties in the Philippines.
• Storm Surge: An abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tide.
• Rapid Intensification: A rapid increase in a tropical cyclone's maximum sustained winds.
• Climate Change: Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, influencing storm intensity and frequency.
• Food Basket of the Country: Regions in the Philippines that are primary producers of essential crops like rice, corn, and coconuts.

Super Typhoon Fun Wong's Impact on the Philippines

Devastation and Evacuations

Super typhoon Fun Wong, locally known as Ompong, has caused widespread destruction in the Philippines, marking the second major storm to hit the country in a week. More than a million people were forced to evacuate their homes. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency. The super typhoon made landfall in Aurora Province with intense winds and heavy rainfall, leading to the closure of schools and government offices. Although the storm has since moved out of the Philippines, it has left a trail of landslides and flooding. Tragically, at least two people have been confirmed dead.

Extent of Damage and Ongoing Effects

Ella Mage, a freelance journalist in Manila, reported that Fun Wong, downgraded from a super typhoon to a typhoon, is now in the northwest part of the Philippines and is expected to exit the country within 12 to 24 hours, heading towards Taiwan. Despite the downgrade, its effects are still being felt across northern Philippines. The storm surge has caused significant flooding, with houses and boats being swept away by large waves. Towns are inundated with water reaching rooftops. Evacuation centers are overflowing, and even in Metro Manila, areas near coastlines and rivers have seen significant water level rises, necessitating evacuations.

Agricultural Losses

A critical concern is the impact on northern Philippines, which is considered the "food basket of the country." This region is responsible for producing most of the nation's rice, corn, and coconuts. The destruction of vast farmlands means that the full economic and food security implications of Fun Wong will become apparent in the coming days.

Preparedness and Lessons Learned

Response to Back-to-Back Storms

The Philippines has experienced over 20 typhoons this year. The preparedness for Fun Wong was influenced by the recent impact of typhoon Kalmegi, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and left many missing. This prior event instilled a sense of fear, especially as Fun Wong was anticipated to be the strongest typhoon of the year, drawing comparisons to the deadly typhoon Hayan of 2013. Despite not directly hitting Metro Manila, thousands were evacuated. Some areas previously affected by Kalmegi also voluntarily evacuated.

The Challenge of Recovery and Future Preparedness

The immediate challenge now is recovery. The question arises: how can communities rebuild and return to work when the entire country is simultaneously grappling with volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and super typhoons? This situation highlights the need to assess the lessons learned from these extreme weather events.

Key Takeaways for Future Events

Ella Mage emphasized the importance of never being complacent and always remaining vigilant. A relative from Cebu shared their experience of losing their farm, their livelihood, and learned the crucial lesson of always being alert and heeding evacuation orders. The effectiveness of government flood control projects is also being questioned, especially in light of ongoing investigations into corruption related to these much-needed infrastructure developments.

Meteorological Analysis of Fun Wong

Storm Characteristics and Impact

Meteorologist Matthew Kapuchi provided a detailed meteorological perspective. Fun Wong made landfall on Sunday local time as a Category 3 hurricane equivalent, with sustained winds estimated between 160 to 175 km/h. His primary concern was the storm's large size and sprawling nature, which efficiently piled water against the coastline, leading to a significant storm surge. This surge has resulted in numerous washed-out and inaccessible roads across central and northern Philippines, potentially stranding many. Widespread power outages are also a consequence of the strong winds. The heavy rainfall adds to the devastation, compounding the impact of typhoon Kalmegi, which had already caused 204 deaths and left 109 people missing.

The Role of Storm Size

Kapuchi explained that for hurricanes and typhoons, the size of the storm is as crucial as its intensity. Fun Wong's large eye means its eyewall, the ring of high-wind speeds, is spread out. This allows the storm to cover a larger area and push more ocean water ashore. He described how colleagues were reporting waves reaching the second floor of buildings due to the significant surge. While Taiwan has robust building codes for wind resistance, Kapuchi expressed greater concern about the surge's impact there.

Climate Change and Tropical Cyclone Trends

Shifting Patterns

Regarding the increasing strength and frequency of storms in the Philippines, Kapuchi noted that climate change is leading to a mixed pattern globally. While the overall number of tropical cyclones worldwide might slightly decrease, the remaining storms are expected to be stronger. This is attributed to increased heat energy in the oceans and atmosphere.

Future Storm Characteristics

Future tropical cyclones are anticipated to be more prone to rapid intensification, be wetter, and have higher wind speeds. Therefore, while there might be fewer storms, those that form are more likely to be significant, high-end hurricanes or typhoons. Tropical cyclones play a vital role in transporting heat from the equator to the poles, accounting for approximately 6% of atmospheric heat transfer. As climate change alters these heat distributions, the characteristics of these storms are evolving.