The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, prompting the relocation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching rooftop levels and homes being swept away by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel saved fourteen people stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident also called in panic, saying his home’s roof was about to be ripped off 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 after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the main island, home to the national capital.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts peaked at over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately thousands of shelters were activated 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 dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons were halted recently over risks for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is causing tropical storms stronger and common. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that severe weather events cause approximately millions in dollars in damage to the country annually.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
