By Adrian H. Halili and Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporters
TYPHOON Fung-wong, locally often called Uwan, left no less than 18 dead mainly on account of landslides brought on by heavy rains across Luzon and Visayas, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Tuesday.
OCD Deputy Administrator Bernardo Rafaelito R. Alejandro IV said that casualties were reported in Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Bicol Region (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), and Eastern Visayas (Region 8).
“There have been three in Region 2, 12 in CAR mostly due to landslides, one in Region 5 on account of drowning, one in Region 6 on account of electrocution, and one in Region 8,” Mr. Alejandro told a livestreamed briefing.
He added that authorities have logged 28 injuries and two missing individuals on account of the results of storm surge.
The Philippines stays under a state of calamity after the dual storms left extensive damage across several regions.
The country was still reeling from the results of Typhoon Kalmaegi (Local name: Tino), which claimed the lives of greater than 200 individuals, when Uwan struck large parts of Luzon on Sunday evening.
Uwan, the 21st storm to hit the Philippines this yr, caused widespread flooding, storm surges, strong winds and landslides over 6,900 local villages. It displaced 2.4 million individuals, with about 804,000 in search of refuge in evacuation centers.
Uwan, which reached super typhoon category, has since weakened because it traversed the remaining of Luzon, exiting the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday, the state weather bureau reported.
In an 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the typhoon weakened right into a severe tropical storm because it moved outside of the PAR closer to Taiwan.
Parts of northern Luzon proceed to feel the results of Uwan, with PAGASA raising Signal No. 2 over Batanes and the western portion of Ilocos Norte; while other portions of Cagayan Valley, CAR, and Ilocos Region are under a lower wind signal.
Uwan was last seen 370 kilometers west northwest of Calayan, Cagayan and moving north northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph). It had maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the middle and gusts reaching as much as 135 kph.
PAGASA noted Uwan may re-enter PAR on Wednesday evening because it makes landfall over the southwestern coast of Taiwan.
The weather bureau also maintained warning for marines to avoid sea travel on northern and central Luzon seaboards, advising vessels to stay in port or seek protected harbor until conditions improve.
DISASTER RESPONSE
Meanwhile, electricity and communications services have been restored in greater than half of the areas hit by Uwan, as Cabinet secretaries were deployed to oversee response and recovery operations across the Visayas and Bicol regions, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
Citing information from the Department of Energy (DoE), Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro reported that power has been brought back to 454 of 712 storm-hit municipalities, or about 60% of affected areas.
Quoting Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin, Ms. Castro said restoration work continues for roughly three million customers still without power, while 60 electric cooperatives remain under close monitoring.
Initial DoE estimates placed the damage to energy infrastructure at over P4 million.
Meanwhile, telecommunications services have also been regularly restored, in keeping with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
As of 8 a.m. on Tuesday, 82% of Smart’s network, 77% of Globe’s, 63% of DITO’s, and 79% of Converge’s connections were back online.
Ms. Castro quoted DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda in saying restoration crews are prioritizing areas where communications remain critical for rescue and logistics operations.
Government relief efforts proceed, she noted. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said P324.1 million in aid has been distributed to families affected by Typhoon Tino, while P48.1 million has been released for communities hit by Uwan.
Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian, currently in Catanduanes, reported that 600,000 family food packs and 21,000 ready-to-eat boxes have been distributed within the two typhoon-affected regions.
Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa, who’s in Leyte, said P8.2 million value of medical supplies and nutrition commodities have been sent to 5 municipalities in Southern Leyte, including Silago and Sogod.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo M. Angara has been inspecting damaged schools in Negros Occidental to evaluate structural safety, while Tourism Secretary Ma. Christina G. Frasco is evaluating the extent of injury to tourism sites and facilities.
The Philippines sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity that encircles the Pacific Ocean.
This position makes the country one of the disaster-prone on the earth, experiencing frequent earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.
This geologic setting has shaped the nation’s landscape and posed persistent challenges for infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and economic stability.