The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the massive storm caused extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams documented floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and homes being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel saved fourteen people stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We saved him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts peaked at over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to lose strength while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, which killed at least 224 people with another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing were halted recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
Global warming is making tropical storms more intense and common. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Scientists have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen doubled over the last two decades.
International estimates suggest that intense storms result in approximately millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency on Thursday because of the severe damage from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
