The Philippines has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.
Authorities reported that the massive storm triggered extensive flash flooding, storm surges, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.
Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts
In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded floodwaters climbing to the tops of houses and residences being swept away by strong flows.
“Our personnel rescued 14 individuals who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. “A father also called in panic, saying the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We saved him along with four family members.”
By Monday, officials announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual who died when her house collapsed on Samar island.
Storm Intensity and Forecast
The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.
Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.
The storm system is expected to continue weakening as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Relief and Assessment
The country’s emergency management agency stated it was still working to assess damage on buildings and roads.
Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.
Previous Storms and Climate Impact
Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, which killed hundreds of lives and left another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.
Searches for the missing persons were halted recently over risks for rescue workers.
Global warming is making tropical storms stronger and common. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation in 2025.
Researchers have found that the frequency of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has increased doubled in the past twenty years.
International estimates suggest that intense storms result in approximately US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president issued a state of emergency on Thursday because of the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and the expected damage from Fung-wong.
