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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 stated that the powerful weather system caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of 1.4 million people nationwide.

Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts

In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented rising waters reaching the tops of houses and residences being swept away by strong flows.

“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. One resident also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”

By Monday, authorities announced at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another killed after her home gave way on Samar island.

Storm Intensity and Projected Path

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 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.

The cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.

Response and Recovery

The national disaster response service 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

Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people with another 135 missing prior to advancing to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.

Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.

The climate crisis is causing cyclones stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.

Researchers report that the rate of intense cyclones 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 damage for the Philippines annually.

The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the severe damage from Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.