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The Philippines was severely impacted by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and displaced more than 1.4 million individuals.

Authorities reported that the powerful weather system triggered widespread sudden floods, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of 1.4 million people across the country.

Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts

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

Our team rescued fourteen people stranded atop a house surrounded by water in a low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”

By Monday, officials announced at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual who died when her house collapsed on Samar island.

Storm Intensity and Projected Path

The intense storm weakened to a severe tropical storm on Monday morning as it crossed the main island, where the capital is located.

According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.

The cyclone is projected to continue weakening while heading in the direction of Taiwan.

Response and Recovery

The national disaster response service stated efforts were ongoing to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.

Roughly thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.

Previous Storms and Environmental Factors

Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, which killed hundreds of lives with dozens unaccounted for before moving on to Vietnam, where it killed five.

Searches for those still missing were halted recently due to safety concerns for rescue workers.

Global warming is making tropical storms stronger and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to impact the nation in 2025.

Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% over the last two decades.

International estimates suggest that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in losses for the Philippines every year.

The nation’s leader declared an emergency declaration last week because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong.