The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the powerful weather system caused extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of 1.4 million residents across the country.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and residences being swept away by strong flows.
Our team rescued 14 individuals stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We saved him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
According to the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones more intense and common. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in losses to the country every year.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration last week because of the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.
