The death toll from Super Typhoon Uwan (Fung-Wong) has risen to 18, leaving a trail of destruction across the Philippines, as flood waters on Tuesday started receding from the affected places.
Fung-wong had displaced 1.4 million people before weakening into a severe tropical storm, even as it began dumping rain on neighbouring Taiwan ahead of an expected Wednesday landfall.
It was the second storm to strike the country in less than a week, after typhoon Kalmaegi, which destroyed the country’s archipelago's central islands on its way to killing 232 people, according to the latest figures.
Residents who remained cut off from the rest of the country have started complaining about the poor rescue efforts undertaken by authorities. "We are struggling to access these areas," said Cagayan Valley region spokesman Alvin Ayson, who added that landslides had prevented rescuers from reaching affected residents.
Others were "now in evacuation centres, but when they get back to their homes, their rebuilding will take time and face challenges." "The greatest challenge for us right now is the restoration of lifelines, road clearing, and restoration of power and communication lines, but we are working on it, said the officials of the rescue and emergency services on Tuesday.
All the educational institutions and business establishments, alongside government offices, remained closed in the aftermath of the deadly storms that ravaged the country.
Up to 400 millimetres (nearly 16 inches) of rain is expected over the next 24 hours, government and weather officials there said. President Lai Ching-te urged people to avoid mountainous areas, beaches and "other dangerous locations" to "get through this period safely".
Also Read: Super typhoon hits Philippines: 2 dead, 1 million evacuated
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