The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials reported that the massive storm caused extensive sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million people across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and homes being swept away by the powerful currents.
Our team saved 14 individuals stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father also called in panic, saying his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
According to the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The national disaster response service stated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing prior to advancing to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing cyclones more intense and common. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation in 2025.
Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause an average of US$3.5 million in losses to the country every year.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
