Typhoon Halong Devastation: Alaska Communities Struggle for Recovery

Fri Oct 17 2025 08:57:52 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Communities in Alaska are facing a humanitarian crisis as Typhoon Halong wreaks havoc, prompting mass evacuations and urgent aid efforts.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Halong, Alaska's coastal villages are grappling with severe destruction, leading to significant evacuations and challenges in restoring basic services. Hundreds of residents have been displaced as military transport planes facilitate a large-scale airlift to safety. Damage reports indicate a dire situation with homes lost and inadequate shelter and resources for evacuees as the threat of freezing temperatures looms.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A monumental airlift operation is underway in Alaska, relocating hundreds of residents from coastal villages devastated by Typhoon Halong's fierce winds and high surf. The storm, which struck last weekend, resulted in record high water levels that inundated two low-lying Alaska Native communities, causing significant destruction to homes and infrastructure.

Emergency responders are shifting their focus from search and rescue to stabilizing the affected populations, as shelters quickly reached capacity. Makeshift accommodations have been set up to house around 1,500 displaced individuals, highlighting the challenges of logistics in a sparsely populated region, especially during the winter months when access is limited to air and water transportation.

The villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok have reported water levels exceeding 6 feet above normal tides, resulting in the destruction of 121 homes in Kipnuk alone. The ongoing evacuation efforts are prompted by the dire need for safety and basic services restoration as the community grapples with troubling reports of damage and loss.

State officials have reported that approximately 300 evacuees have been relocated to Anchorage, about 500 miles from the afflicted areas. With local shelter options reaching capacity and concerns regarding food shortages, the state is seeking additional resources to accommodate the displaced individuals.

As the region braces for the possibility of rain and snow, which could further complicate recovery efforts, emergency managers are focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of the displaced. They are also addressing the issue of water and sewage system failures in nearby Napaskiak, as well as a hazardous oil spill incident requiring immediate attention.

The ongoing crisis sheds light on the impacts of previous funding cuts that have affected disaster preparedness and infrastructure improvements in these vulnerable communities. Advocates emphasize the importance of restoring support to help these areas adapt to the escalating effects of climate change.