The island nation was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Officials stated that the massive storm caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of 1.4 million residents nationwide.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded rising waters reaching the tops of houses and homes being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued fourteen people stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father also called in panic, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”
As of Monday morning, officials announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength and Forecast
The intense storm weakened to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is expected 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 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to accommodate tens of thousands of households.
Previous Storms and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, which killed hundreds of lives and left dozens unaccounted for before moving on toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for the missing persons were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making tropical storms stronger and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.
Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has risen doubled over the last two decades.
International estimates indicate that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in losses to the country annually.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday because of the extensive devastation from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.
