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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 more than 1.4 million individuals.

Authorities reported that the massive storm triggered widespread flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million people nationwide.

Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts

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

Our team saved 14 individuals stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” an emergency official explained. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”

As of Monday morning, officials announced two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another who died when her house collapsed on Samar island.

Typhoon Strength and Forecast

The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.

Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.

The cyclone is expected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.

Response and Recovery

The country’s emergency management agency stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.

Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.

Recent Context and Environmental Factors

The typhoon hit shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.

Searches for those still missing had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.

The climate crisis is making cyclones more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.

Scientists report that the frequency of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased doubled over the last two decades.

Global assessments indicate that severe weather events cause an average of US$3.5 million in losses to the country annually.

The Philippine president declared a state of emergency last week due to the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.