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.
Officials reported that the massive storm caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams documented rising waters reaching the tops of houses and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved fourteen people stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. 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 and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
Per meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is expected to lose strength as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted recently over risks to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing cyclones more intense and common. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Scientists report that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that severe weather events cause approximately US$3.5 million in losses to the country every year.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration last week due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
