The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the massive storm triggered widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, mudslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of residents nationwide.
Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams documented rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and homes washed out by the powerful currents.
Our team saved 14 individuals stranded on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. “A father frantically contacted us, saying his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and another who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over 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 were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The country’s emergency management agency stated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.
Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Search operations for those still missing were halted recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing cyclones stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to impact the nation in 2025.
Researchers have found that the rate of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that severe weather events result in an average of US$3.5 million in losses to the country annually.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration last week because of the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
