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

Authorities stated that the powerful weather system triggered widespread flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and destructive high-velocity gusts, prompting the relocation of millions of residents nationwide.

Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts

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

“Our personnel saved fourteen people who were trapped on the roof engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We saved him along with four family members.”

As of Monday morning, officials announced two fatalities: a drowning victim in Catanduanes and a second individual who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.

Storm Intensity and Forecast

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

Per the state weather service, the storm’s sustained wind speed decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts were still reaching over 170 mph.

The storm system is expected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.

Response and Recovery

The national disaster response service stated it was still working to assess damage on buildings and roads.

Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.

Previous Storms and Climate Impact

Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, that claimed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.

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 frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.

Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased doubled over the last two decades.

Global assessments suggest that severe weather events cause an average of US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines every year.

The nation’s leader issued a state of emergency last week because of the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated impacts from the new storm.