The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Authorities reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved 14 individuals stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official stated. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials announced two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing cyclones more intense and common. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms cause approximately US$3.5 million in damage to the country every year.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration last week because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
