The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of millions of residents nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching the tops of houses and homes washed out by strong flows.
Our team rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We saved him and four relatives.”
By Monday, authorities announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
Per meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts peaked at over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for the missing persons were halted on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers report that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that severe weather events result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage to the country annually.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency last week due to the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
