The Philippines was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left 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 sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and residences washed out by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The intense storm weakened to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is projected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones more intense and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen doubled in the past twenty years.
International estimates indicate that intense storms cause approximately US$3.5 million in damage to the country every year.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration last week because of the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
