The Philippines has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials reported that the massive storm triggered extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of 1.4 million residents across the country.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented rising waters climbing to rooftop levels and residences washed out by the powerful currents.
Our team saved 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
By Monday, officials confirmed two fatalities: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual killed after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.
According to meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening while heading in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for those still missing were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is causing cyclones stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Scientists have found that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen doubled over the last two decades.
International estimates suggest that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage to the country every year.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
