The Philippines was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials stated that the massive storm caused extensive flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of people nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams documented rising waters reaching rooftop levels and homes washed out by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident frantically contacted us, 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, authorities announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the main 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 were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended recently over risks to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing tropical storms more intense and common. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers have found that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has increased doubled over the last two decades.
International estimates indicate that intense storms cause an average of US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the extensive devastation caused by the prior typhoon and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
