The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system triggered extensive flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of millions of people nationwide.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and residences washed out by strong flows.
“Our personnel saved fourteen people who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The intense storm was downgraded to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning while moving over the main island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing were halted recently over risks to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is making cyclones more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers report that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in losses to the country every year.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the severe damage from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
