The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the powerful weather system caused widespread sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of 1.4 million residents nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
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 team rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. “A father frantically contacted us, 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: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
According to the state weather service, 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 lose strength while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing cyclones stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers report that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that severe weather events result in an average of millions in dollars in losses to the country every year.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
