The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of people nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and homes washed out by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued fourteen people stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. One resident also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another killed when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted recently over risks for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making tropical storms stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% 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 last week because of the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
