The Philippines has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the powerful weather system triggered extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, mudslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of people across the country.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and homes washed out by the powerful currents.
“Our personnel saved fourteen people who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual killed after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning 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, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit shortly following another severe storm, which killed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is causing tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Scientists report that the rate of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen doubled over the last two decades.
International estimates indicate that severe weather events cause an average of US$3.5 million in losses to the country annually.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency last week due to the extensive devastation from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.
