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 reported that the powerful weather system triggered widespread flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million people nationwide.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and homes washed out by strong flows.
Our team rescued 14 individuals stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official stated. “A father frantically contacted us, saying his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and a second individual killed after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated it was still working to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened 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 another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing were halted recently due to safety concerns 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.
Scientists report that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms cause an average of millions in dollars in losses for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
