The Philippines was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and displaced over a million residents.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system caused extensive sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.
Widespread Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching the tops of houses and residences being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials announced two fatalities: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is projected to lose strength while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, which killed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended recently over risks for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing tropical storms more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms cause an average of millions in dollars in losses to the country every year.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency last week because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.
