The Philippines was severely impacted 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 widespread flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams documented rising waters reaching rooftop levels and residences being swept away by strong flows.
Our team saved fourteen people who were trapped on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. One resident frantically contacted us, saying the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, authorities announced two fatalities: one from drowning on the island and a second individual who died when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Typhoon Strength and Projected Path
The intense storm was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
Per the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.
The storm system is projected to continue weakening as it moves north toward Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house 92,000 families.
Recent Context and Environmental Factors
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Search operations for the missing persons had to be suspended on Sunday over risks to emergency personnel.
The climate crisis is causing tropical storms stronger and common. This typhoon marks the twenty-first storm to impact the nation in 2025.
Scientists report that the rate of super-typhoons striking the islands has increased by more than 100% over the last two decades.
Global assessments suggest that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.
The Philippine president issued an emergency declaration last week due to the severe damage from Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
