Alaskan authorities are conducting one of the state’s largest air evacuations in history, relocating over 1,600 residents from remote indigenous villages ravaged by the remnants of Typhoon Halong, which has caused one death and left two people missing.
The extensive operation aims to move villagers from low-lying western coastal communities, including Kipnuk and Quinhagak, within the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. These areas experienced record storm surges, with sea levels rising more than 1.8 meters (6 feet) above normal during the storm.
On Wednesday, more than 300 evacuees were airlifted approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) to Anchorage. They are temporarily housed at the Alaska Airlines Center, which has a capacity for around 400 people.
Officials with the Alaska Department of Veterans and Military Affairs reported that about 1,600 individuals have been transferred to 13 temporary shelters across the affected region. The state anticipates relocating all evacuees to more permanent accommodations, such as hotels or dormitories, within the coming days.
Typhoon Halong, after forming in the Western Pacific, previously caused significant damage in Japan. It then tracked north and weakened into a tropical storm before making landfall in Alaska last weekend, resulting in widespread flooding and substantial property losses in numerous coastal areas.
Alaska began the evacuation operation on October 16, 2025, following the storm’s impact. Local authorities emphasized the historical scale of the current airlift mission.