The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the powerful weather system triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of 1.4 million residents nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and homes being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel saved 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, officials confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
According to the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed at least 224 people with another 135 missing prior to advancing to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing were halted on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making cyclones stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers have found that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has increased by more than 100% over the last two decades.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause an average of millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.