The Philippines has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Authorities stated that the powerful weather system triggered widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, prompting the relocation of 1.4 million people across the country.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented rising waters reaching rooftop levels and residences being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We saved him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, authorities announced at least two deaths: one from drowning on the island and a second individual who died after her home gave way on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning while moving over the main island, where the capital is located.
According to the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, that claimed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended recently over risks for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making tropical storms more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers report that the frequency of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased doubled over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that severe weather events cause approximately millions in dollars in losses to the country every year.
The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
