Deadly Super Typhoon Slams the Philippines, Latest in a Sequence of Storms

At least five people were killed and more than 1 million people have been displaced in the Philippines by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which tore into the archipelago on Sunday. Initial reports detailed widespread flooding and power outages across several northeastern towns and villages in Luzon, the country's largest and most populated island.

The storm, known as Uwan in the Philippines, was notable for its size, which measured about 1,000 miles across, about the distance from New York City to Miami. It made landfall with sustained winds of more than 115 miles per hour and gusts reaching 145 miles per hour.

Local footage showed storm surges flooding homes and streets, turning roads into flowing rivers. Government offices and schools are closed in Luzon, which includes the capital of Manila.

In the wake of hurricanes and other natural disasters, vulnerable populations, including elderly residents, people with disabilities, children, and those in remote or low-income communities, often face acute healthcare challenges. When power lines are down and roads blocked, access to essential medicines, medical care, and electricity-dependent equipment can become impeded, leading to life-threatening concerns. Hospitals and clinics can struggle to operate on limited generator power, while pharmacies and cold-storage facilities lose vital supplies.

Super Typhoon Fung-wong hit the Philippines less than a week after Typhoon Kalmaegi devastated the central Philippines, killing more than 220 people. Search and rescue efforts in the central Cebu province had to be suspended Sunday as the latest typhoon arrived.

In Negros Island, located west of Cebu, Typhoon Kalmaegi triggered severe flooding and landslides in several upland communities. In Canlaon City, heavy rainfall dislodged large boulders and volcanic debris from the slopes of Mt. Kanlaon, damaging houses, roads, and farmlands. Communities in the foothills of the volcano are already on high alert as it is currently under Alert Level 2 due to ongoing steam-driven eruptions.

A "state of national calamity," declared after Typhoon Kalmaegi, will remain in effect for another year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday.

The typhoon is now trending towards Taiwan, where torrential downpours are expected.

Direct Relief's Response

Direct Relief is supporting local NGO PH-Wadah, which has operations in Cebu and a birthing center in Aborlan, Palawan, with emergency operating funds. In Palawan, heavy rains and strong winds from the storms caused flooding in low-lying areas and disrupted access to health facilities, affecting maternal and child health services.

Direct Relief is also in communication with the Philippines Disaster Resilience Foundation about potential medical needs, as well as ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, or AHA Center. The organization coordinates disaster response efforts across ASEAN countries, which include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

ASEAN member countries combined have a population of 640 million people, and these 10 countries sit on or near the "Ring of Fire," the zone around the Pacific Ocean that is prone to natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

In addition to regular donations of medicines and medical supplies, Direct Relief has mobilized and launched major organizational responses to disasters in the region, including the Indian Ocean Tsunami (Indonesia, 2004), Cyclone Nargis (Myanmar, 2008), Typhoon Haiyan (The Philippines, 2013), Sulawesi and Lombok earthquakes (Indonesia, 2018) and Covid-19 pandemic response throughout Southeast Asia.

Direct Relief will continue to monitor the storm and respond to medical needs as they become known.