The Philippines was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of 1.4 million people across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded rising waters reaching the tops of houses and homes washed out by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. “A father frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
By Monday, officials confirmed two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is expected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, which killed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended recently over risks for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making cyclones more intense and common. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Scientists have found that the rate of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen doubled in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that severe weather events cause an average of millions in dollars in damage to the country annually.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration last week because of the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
