The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the massive storm triggered extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million people across the country.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team rescued fourteen people stranded atop a house engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. “A father also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds dropped 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 north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to accommodate 92,000 families.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people with another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended recently over risks for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is causing tropical storms more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to impact the nation in 2025.
Researchers report that the frequency of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms result in approximately millions in dollars in damage to the country annually.
The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency last week due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
