The Philippines was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced over a million residents.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system caused extensive flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million residents nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and residences being swept away by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. One resident frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the main island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is projected to lose strength while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, which killed at least 224 people with another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.
Global warming 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 striking the islands has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates indicate that severe weather events cause approximately millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency on Thursday due to the severe damage from the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
