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The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.

Officials reported that the powerful weather system triggered extensive flash flooding, coastal inundation, mudslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of 1.4 million people across the country.

Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts

In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews recorded floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and homes being swept away by strong flows.

“Our personnel rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”

As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual killed after her home gave way on Samar island.

Storm Intensity and Forecast

The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday as it crossed 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, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.

The cyclone is expected to continue weakening as it moves north toward 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 were activated 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 were halted on Sunday due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.

The climate crisis is causing tropical storms more intense and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to hit the Philippines in 2025.

Researchers report that the rate of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.

International estimates indicate that intense storms cause approximately millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.

The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration last week due to the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.