The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system triggered extensive sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters reaching rooftop levels and residences being swept away by the powerful currents.
Our team saved fourteen people who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”
By Monday, officials announced two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual killed after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to lose strength while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to accommodate 92,000 families.
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 to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons were halted recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is making cyclones stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation in 2025.
Scientists have found that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.
International estimates indicate that severe weather events result in an average of millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines annually.
The Philippine president declared a state of emergency last week because of the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
