The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system triggered extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews documented floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and residences being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued fourteen people who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. One resident frantically contacted us, saying his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced two fatalities: one from drowning on the island and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The super typhoon was downgraded to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to lose strength while heading north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing cyclones stronger and common. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers report that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms result in an average of millions in dollars in losses for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader issued an emergency declaration last week because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
