The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system triggered extensive flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million people across the country.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and homes washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved fourteen people who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official stated. One resident also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials announced two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
According to meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people with dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for those still missing were halted on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones more intense and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Scientists have found that the frequency of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that severe weather events result in approximately US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines every year.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
