The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of residents nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching rooftop levels and residences washed out by the powerful currents.
Our team saved 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official stated. “A father frantically contacted us, saying his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
By Monday, officials confirmed two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength 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.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is projected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, which killed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted recently over risks to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing tropical storms more intense and common. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Scientists have found that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms cause an average of millions in dollars in losses to the country annually.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency last week due to the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
