The Philippines was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials stated that the powerful weather system triggered extensive sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of 1.4 million residents nationwide.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching the tops of houses and residences washed out by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued 14 individuals stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, officials announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the main island, home to the national capital.
Per meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people with dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended recently over risks to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is making tropical storms stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms result in an average of millions in dollars in losses to the country annually.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
