Dramatic Rescue as Homes Float Away During Alaskan Typhoon

A powerful typhoon, the remnants of what was once Typhoon Halong, recently battered the Alaskan coast, causing unprecedented scenes of destruction and prompting urgent rescue operations. The storm brought hurricane-force winds that resulted in one fatality and left two individuals missing. The impact was particularly severe in Kipnuk, where residents witnessed their homes detach from the land and drift out to sea.

Brea Paul, a local resident who captured the harrowing footage on October 12th, described the scene: “I had seen about 20 other houses floating away overnight,” she recounted. “Some of them would blink their phone lights at us like they were asking for help, but we couldn’t even do anything.” This chilling observation highlights the helplessness felt by those who could only watch as their neighbors’ homes were swept away by the tempestuous waters.

The US Coast Guard responded swiftly, carrying out daring rescues that saved approximately two dozen people from homes that had been carried out to sea. The scale of the displacement is significant, with around 1,300 people forced to leave their residences due to the storm’s destructive force.

The typhoon’s impact serves as a stark reminder of the increasing intensity of severe weather events and their profound effect on coastal communities. Authorities are continuing to assess the damage and provide support to those affected by this devastating event.