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The Philippines was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.

Officials reported that the massive storm triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of 1.4 million people across the country.

Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts

In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and homes being swept away by the powerful currents.

Our team rescued 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”

As of Monday morning, officials confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and another who died when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.

Storm Intensity and Projected Path

The super typhoon weakened to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.

Per meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.

The storm system is projected to lose strength while heading north toward Taiwan.

Relief and Assessment

The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.

Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.

Previous Storms and Environmental Factors

Fung-wong struck shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for prior to advancing toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.

Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.

Global warming is causing tropical storms more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.

Scientists have found that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% in the past twenty years.

Global assessments indicate that intense storms result in an average of millions in dollars in damage to the country every year.

The Philippine president declared a state of emergency on Thursday because of the extensive devastation from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.