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 reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million residents nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and residences washed out by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel saved 14 individuals stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. “A father also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
By Monday, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
According to the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making cyclones more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation in 2025.
Scientists have found that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that severe weather events cause approximately US$3.5 million in losses to the country every year.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
