The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced over a million residents.
Officials stated that the massive storm triggered widespread flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Widespread Destruction and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and homes being swept away by strong flows.
Our team rescued fourteen people stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. One resident also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the main island, where the capital is located.
According to the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended recently over risks to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers report that the rate of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates indicate that severe weather events result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.
The Philippine president declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
