The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Authorities stated that the powerful weather system caused widespread sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of millions of residents nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and homes washed out by strong flows.
Our team rescued fourteen people who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. One resident also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”
By Monday, authorities announced two fatalities: one from drowning on the island and a second individual who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
According to the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is causing tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation in 2025.
Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that severe weather events result in an average of US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the extensive devastation from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.
