The Philippines has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the massive storm caused widespread flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of millions of people across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Operations
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and residences washed out by strong flows.
Our team saved 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. One resident frantically contacted us, 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, officials announced two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the Philippines’ largest 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, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to lose strength while heading 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.
Approximately thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for the missing persons were halted recently over risks for rescue workers.
Global warming is causing tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers have found that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in losses to the country every year.
The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
