The island nation 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 reported that the massive storm triggered extensive sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of residents nationwide.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and homes being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel saved fourteen people stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident frantically contacted us, saying his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another killed when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency stated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Recent Context and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for the missing persons were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making tropical storms more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers have found that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.
Global assessments indicate that severe weather events result in approximately US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.
The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
