The Philippines has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the powerful weather system caused extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, mudslides, and destructive gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of people across the country.
Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded rising waters climbing to the tops of houses and homes being swept away by the powerful currents.
Our team rescued fourteen people who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We rescued him and four relatives.”
By Monday, authorities announced two fatalities: one from drowning on the island and another who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The super typhoon weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, home to the national capital.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts peaked at over 170 mph.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing prior to advancing to Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making cyclones stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation in 2025.
Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.
International estimates indicate that severe weather events result in approximately 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 the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.
