Introduction to the Disaster
Record-setting flooding in western Alaska from the remnants of Typhoon Halong has left at least one person dead after the storm slammed villages and damaged key roads and regional airports along the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region over the weekend.
Flooding photos in Western Alaskas taken by Alaska DOT&PF crews on Oct. 9, 2025 after the first round of coastal flooding. (Alaska DOT&PF)
The Storm’s Impact
The powerful coastal storm moved into the Bering Sea on Sunday, packing hurricane-force wind gusts, big waves and major coastal flooding for the Kuskokwim Delta and communities south of the Bering Strait. However, storm surge and heavy rain has been ongoing since last week from another storm system, creating a dire situation. Alaska State Troopers announced late Monday that a woman had been found dead in the small coastal village of Kwigillingok. Fifty-one people and two dogs were rescued from the village and the village of Kipnuk. Officials said everyone has now been accounted for.
Rescue Efforts
The powerful flooding has displaced more than 1,400 people and prompted search and rescue operations by state and federal officials. Video from the city of Bethel showed powerful flooding washing away boats and damaging infrastructure over the weekend. Photos shared by Alaska’s Emergency Management showed dozens of homes surrounded by flooding. Hurricane-force wind gusts of up to 100 mph were reported over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Another video taken in Emmonak showed the powerful winds and surf flipping a boat on its side.
Response to the Disaster
According to the state’s Division of Homeland Security, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center reported an overwhelming number of calls for non-critical evacuations Monday, and some 1,400 people are currently being housed across 12 shelters. Additional first responders and the Alaska National Guard are being deployed to the region. According to Alaska State Troopers, more than 30 people were rescued in Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities over the weekend. At least 18 people were rescued in Kwigillingok, and at least 16 people were rescued in Kipnuk, troopers said.
Infrastructure Damage
Alaska’s Department of Transportation reported that more than 50 community airports and roads have been damaged by the storm. The department noted that many of the villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta aren’t connected by a continuous road system, and local airports are the only connection to outside communities. A Coastal Flood Warning was in effect through Monday afternoon for much of coastal Alaska. At a news conference Monday, the National Weather Service reported water in Kipnuk was 6.6 feet above the normal high-tide level, almost 2 feet above the previous record set in 2000.
Assessment of the Damage
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities completed damage surveys of the first coastal storm last week before the renewed threat from Halong arrived over the weekend. The video above shows the flooding on the Kotz Airport runway after the first round of flooding. According to an Alaska nonprofit, the Coastal Villages Region Fund, the devastation from Halong may be beyond that of Typhoon Merbok in 2022.
Conclusion
The record-setting flooding in western Alaska from Typhoon Halong has had a devastating impact on the region, resulting in loss of life, displacement of people, and significant damage to infrastructure. The response efforts are ongoing, with additional first responders and the Alaska National Guard being deployed to the region. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but it is clear that the region will need significant support to recover from this disaster.
FAQs
Q: What was the cause of the flooding in western Alaska?
A: The flooding was caused by the remnants of Typhoon Halong, which brought hurricane-force wind gusts, big waves, and major coastal flooding to the region.
Q: How many people were displaced by the flooding?
A: More than 1,400 people were displaced by the flooding and are currently being housed across 12 shelters.
Q: What was the impact of the storm on infrastructure?
A: The storm damaged more than 50 community airports and roads, and many villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta are not connected by a continuous road system.
Q: How did the authorities respond to the disaster?
A: The authorities responded by deploying additional first responders and the Alaska National Guard to the region, and by conducting search and rescue operations.
Q: What is the expected extent of the damage from the storm?
A: According to an Alaska nonprofit, the devastation from Halong may be beyond that of Typhoon Merbok in 2022.
