The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the powerful weather system triggered extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and destructive gale-force winds, prompting the relocation of millions of residents across the country.
Widespread Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved 14 individuals stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another killed when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
According to 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 as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people with dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons were halted on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to impact the nation in 2025.
Researchers have found that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms result in approximately US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
