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The Philippines was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.

Authorities reported that the powerful weather system triggered widespread flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of 1.4 million residents across the country.

Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations

In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and residences washed out by the powerful currents.

“Our personnel saved fourteen people who were trapped on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. One resident frantically contacted us, saying his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”

As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed two fatalities: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual killed after her home gave way on Samar island.

Typhoon Strength and Projected Path

The intense storm weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.

Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at more than 275 km/h.

The cyclone is projected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.

Response and Recovery

The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.

Approximately thousands of shelters were activated to accommodate tens of thousands of households.

Previous Storms and Environmental Factors

The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.

Search operations for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.

The climate crisis is causing cyclones more intense and common. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation in 2025.

Scientists report that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.

Global assessments indicate that intense storms result in approximately US$3.5 million in damage to the country annually.

The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency last week because of the extensive devastation from the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from the new storm.