The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system triggered widespread flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million residents nationwide.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented rising waters reaching rooftop levels and homes being swept away by strong flows.
Our team saved fourteen people stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” 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 rescued him and four relatives.”
By Monday, authorities confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The cyclone is expected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency stated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, which killed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is causing cyclones more intense and common. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation in 2025.
Researchers have found that the rate of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen doubled in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms cause approximately US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president declared a state of emergency last week due to the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
