The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of millions of people across the country.
Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews documented rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and homes being swept away by strong flows.
Our team saved fourteen people stranded atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father also called in panic, saying his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, authorities announced two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing cyclones more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation in 2025.
Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms result in approximately US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.
The nation’s leader issued an emergency declaration last week due to the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
