Remnants of Typhoon Halong Slam Western Alaska - Massive Flooding, Missing Residents, and Ongoing Search Efforts

Western Alaska Submerged Under Storm Surge

The remnants of Typhoon Halong have unleashed devastating flooding across western Alaska, sweeping through remote coastal villages and leaving widespread destruction in their wake. The storm, which moved into the Bering Sea over the weekend, brought hurricane-force gusts, towering waves, and water levels several feet above normal tides.

Communities across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta have been inundated since Sunday, with entire neighborhoods surrounded by water. Videos from Bethel, AK, showed streets transformed into rivers as boats broke loose and slammed into buildings. Floodwaters washed away docks, damaged homes, and left infrastructure in ruins.

Officials say more than 30 people have been rescued across the region, including 18 in Kwigillingok and 16 in Kipnuk. Search teams are still trying to locate several missing residents after homes were swept away by the surge. “We have received reports that people’s homes have floated away and that people were potentially in those homes," said Jeremy Zidek, spokesperson for the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

The Alaska State Troopers, Air National Guard, and U.S. Coast Guard have all joined search and rescue operations. “Every effort will be made to help those hit by this storm. Help is on the way," said Governor Mike Dunleavy.

Hurricane-Force Winds and Coastal Flooding

Winds reaching 100 miles per hour battered the coastline through the weekend, toppling structures and overturning boats. In Emmonak, AK, footage showed powerful surf flipping a fishing vessel onto its side, while floodwaters surged through homes and schools.

A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect for much of coastal Alaska, where water levels have risen 4 to 6 feet above normal high tide. The storm surge, combined with heavy rain from earlier systems, has created a compounding disaster across the delta.

The Alaska Department of Transportation reported extensive damage to roads and airstrips, including flooding on the Kotzebue Airport runway. Crews have been surveying damage from an earlier storm that struck the same region last week, only to find their efforts undone by Halong’s arrival.

Officials from the Coastal Villages Region Fund - a nonprofit serving local communities - described the destruction as “possibly worse than Typhoon Merbok," which caused historic flooding in 2022.

Rescue and Shelter Efforts in Isolated Villages

In the small villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, hundreds of residents have taken refuge in schools and community centers after floodwaters cut off power and access roads. Nearly 600 people in Kipnuk and about 300 in Kwigillingok are now sheltering in place, with food and supplies being flown in by the National Guard.

The isolation of these communities has made rescue work challenging. Many towns have no traditional road systems, relying instead on wooden boardwalks, boats, and snowmobiles for travel. With water rising and communication lines damaged, emergency teams are using aircraft to locate survivors and assess damage.

“Conditions are dangerous and constantly changing," Zidek said. “Crews are facing strong winds, poor visibility, and debris in the water."

A Region Reeling From Successive Storms

The flooding from Halong’s remnants hit an area already struggling to recover from back-to-back storms. Before Halong arrived, western Alaska was still experiencing coastal flooding and erosion from another system earlier in the week.

Residents say the damage feels worse this time. “The waves were taller than I have ever seen," said a local fisherman from the Kuskokwim Delta. “We lost boats, gear, everything. The water came up fast and did not stop."

Aerial images released by the Alaska Division of Emergency Management show entire stretches of land underwater, with homes surrounded by ice-cold floodwaters. Emergency shelters have been set up across affected areas, and state officials have deployed teams to deliver food, fuel, and medical supplies.

A Reminder of Alaska’s Vulnerability

This storm is the latest in a growing trend of severe autumn weather events to strike Alaska’s western coast. Warmer ocean temperatures and shifts in the Pacific jet stream are allowing remnants of western Pacific typhoons to retain strength longer as they transition into powerful extratropical storms over the Bering Sea.

While the immediate focus remains on rescue operations, early assessments suggest that recovery will take months. “The devastation from Halong may exceed that of Merbok," the Coastal Villages Region Fund stated.

For now, water continues to rise in parts of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, with floodwaters expected to persist into Monday. Winds are slowly easing, but the danger is far from over. As one Bethel resident said while standing in knee-deep water: “It is hard to believe this is Alaska. It looks more like the ocean has moved in."