The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system caused extensive sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million residents nationwide.
Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters climbing to 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. “A father also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
According to meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, which killed at least 224 people with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing tropical storms stronger and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to impact the nation in 2025.
Scientists have found that the rate of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that severe weather events result in approximately millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
