The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials stated that the massive storm caused extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the relocation of millions of residents across the country.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching rooftop levels and residences being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel saved fourteen people who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We saved him and four relatives.”
By Monday, officials confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and a second individual who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, 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 national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing tropical storms more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers report that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in losses for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
