The Philippines was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials reported that the massive storm triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of millions of residents across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching rooftop levels and residences being swept away by strong flows.
Our team saved 14 individuals stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. “A father frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, officials confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to continue weakening while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck just days after 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 had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing cyclones stronger and common. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to impact the nation in 2025.
Researchers have found that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen doubled over the last two decades.
International estimates indicate that intense storms cause an average of millions in dollars in losses for the Philippines annually.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration last week because of the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.