The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Officials reported that the massive storm caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.
Extensive Damage and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters reaching rooftop levels and homes washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved fourteen people stranded atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house 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 another who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the main island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
Global warming is making cyclones stronger and common. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Scientists report that the frequency of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
Global assessments indicate that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in losses to the country annually.
The nation’s leader issued an emergency declaration last week because of the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
