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The island nation has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of more than 1.4 million individuals.

Officials stated that the massive storm triggered widespread sudden floods, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, prompting the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.

Widespread Destruction and Rescue Efforts

In the town of Pandan, a severely affected area, disaster response teams recorded rising waters reaching rooftop levels and residences washed out by strong flows.

Our team rescued fourteen people who were trapped atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” an emergency official stated. One resident also called in panic, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him and four relatives.”

As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed two fatalities: a drowning victim on the island 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 Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.

According to meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 115 mph to 102 mph, but gusts peaked at over 170 mph.

The cyclone is projected to lose strength as it moves north toward Taiwan.

Response and Recovery

The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.

Roughly 6,000 evacuation centres were activated to accommodate tens of thousands of households.

Previous Storms and Climate Impact

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

Searches for those still missing had to be suspended on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.

The climate crisis is causing cyclones more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2025.

Researchers report that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has risen doubled over the last two decades.

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

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