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The Philippines was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.

Officials reported that the massive storm triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of millions of people across the country.

Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations

In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching the tops of houses and homes washed out by the powerful currents.

Our team rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official explained. One resident 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 confirmed two fatalities: a drowning victim on the island and another killed when her house collapsed in eastern Samar.

Typhoon Strength and Projected Path

The intense storm was downgraded to a severe tropical storm early Monday as it crossed the main island, home to the national capital.

Per meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.

The cyclone is expected to lose strength while heading north toward Taiwan.

Relief and Assessment

The country’s emergency management agency indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage on buildings and roads.

Approximately 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.

Recent Context and Environmental Factors

Fung-wong struck shortly following another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, where it killed five.

Searches for the missing persons had to be suspended recently due to safety concerns to emergency personnel.

Global warming is causing tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.

Scientists report that the rate of super-typhoons hitting the Philippines has risen by more than 100% over the last two decades.

International estimates suggest that severe weather events cause an average of millions in dollars in damage to the country annually.

The nation’s leader declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the severe damage caused by the prior typhoon and anticipated impacts from Fung-wong.