Rescue teams in the Philippines began clean-up and reconstruction work on Tuesday (11) following the devastating passage of Typhoon Vong Wong, which left at least 18 people dead and led to the evacuation of 1.4 million people. With winds reaching speeds of up to 230 kilometers per hour, the phenomenon struck the country on Sunday evening like a powerful hurricane, causing floods, landslides, and power outages in dozens of cities.
Rescue teams in the Philippines began clean-up and reconstruction work on Tuesday (11) following the devastating passage of Typhoon Vong Wong, which left at least 18 people dead and led to the evacuation of 1.4 million people. With winds reaching speeds of up to 230 kilometers per hour, the phenomenon struck the country on Sunday evening like a powerful hurricane, causing floods, landslides, and power outages in dozens of cities.
As water levels drop in flooded villages, reconstruction work is facing difficulties due to landslides and the isolation of many communities. In the coastal province of Isabela, a town of about 6,000 remains completely isolated.
Parts of neighboring Nueva Vizcaya are also inaccessible. According to Alvin Ayson, civil defense spokesman for the Cagayan Valley region, landslides prevented rescuers from reaching the worst-hit areas. A 10-year-old boy died in one of these landslides.
The casualty toll was updated by Rafaelito Alejandro, head of the National Civil Defense, who warned that even initial reconstruction efforts would likely take weeks. He added, “The biggest challenge facing us now is restoring access to isolated areas, opening roads, and restarting energy and communications networks.”
On Catanduanes Island, one of the worst affected areas, it may take up to 20 days to restore water supplies.
Taiwan is preparing
Phuong Wong, which forced the evacuation of about 1.4 million people, lost strength and was reclassified as a severe tropical storm. The storm is now heading towards Taiwan, where schools and public offices have been closed in several areas. This phenomenon is enhanced by the northeast monsoon winds, which increases the risk of heavy rainfall that can reach 400 mm in just 24 hours.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te asked residents to avoid dangerous areas such as beaches and mountainous areas.
The passage of Phuong Wong comes just days after Typhoon Kalmigi devastated the central Philippines, killing at least 232 people, according to the latest official figures. The sequence of extreme events revives the warning about the impact of climate change on the intensification of tropical cyclones in Southeast Asia.
Typhoon Vong Wong formed in early November and struck the Philippines with winds reaching speeds of 230 kilometers per hour, covering almost the entire country. With a diameter of about 1,800 kilometers, it was one of the largest hurricanes recorded in the country in recent years.
The storm caused widespread flooding, destroyed hundreds of homes and left thousands of people in temporary shelters. Experts warn of the increasing frequency and severity of these events, which requires greater preparedness from local and international authorities to deal with climate disasters.
With Agence France-Presse
About The Author
