What happened to the village of Kwigillingok, Alaska in October 2025?

The remnants of Typhoon Halong devastated the village of Kwigillingok, uprooting homes and leaving one person dead.

How are the residents of Kwigillingok coping with the aftermath?

While most residents evacuated, a small group of 7 chose to remain behind and are now working to rebuild the village. Hundreds of displaced residents are in temporary housing in Anchorage, struggling to adapt to a lifestyle very different from their traditional subsistence living.

What are the long-term challenges facing Kwigillingok and other Alaskan villages affected by climate change?

The villages face growing threats of rising seas, erosion, melting permafrost, and worsening storms, making relocation a major challenge both logistically and financially.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Alaskan Village Fights to Rebuild After Devastating Typhoon Floods

Alaskan Village Fights to Rebuild After Devastating Typhoon Floods

7 Nov, 2025

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Summary

7 residents remain in devastated Kwigillingok village after typhoon
Hundreds displaced, seeking temporary housing in Anchorage
Relocation of villages threatened by rising seas and storms a major challenge

Alaskan Village Fights to Rebuild After Devastating Typhoon Floods

In mid-October 2025, the remote Alaskan village of Kwigillingok was hit hard by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. The storm surge uprooted homes and left one person dead, with two others still missing. While most of the village's residents evacuated to nearby cities, a small group of 7 chose to remain behind.

Darrel John, one of the residents who stayed, said he "couldn't leave [his] community." However, the future of Kwigillingok and other villages damaged by the severe flooding remains uncertain. The state of Alaska is focused on repairing the villages and supporting the over 1,600 displaced people, but it could take up to 18 months.