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The island nation has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.

Officials reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the evacuation of millions of people nationwide.

Extensive Damage and Rescue Efforts

In Pandan, Catanduanes, one of the worst-hit regions, emergency crews recorded floodwaters climbing to rooftop levels and homes washed out by strong flows.

Our team saved 14 individuals stranded atop a house engulfed in flood in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was at risk of tearing away by the wind. We rescued him along with four family members.”

As of Monday morning, officials confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and another killed after her home gave way in eastern Samar.

Typhoon Strength and Projected Path

The super typhoon was downgraded to a typhoon early Monday while moving over the Philippines’ largest island, where the capital is located.

According to the state weather service, its maximum winds dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, though wind bursts were still reaching over 170 mph.

The storm system is expected to continue weakening while heading north toward Taiwan.

Response and Recovery

The country’s emergency management agency stated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.

Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to accommodate 92,000 families.

Previous Storms and Climate Impact

Fung-wong struck shortly following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed hundreds of lives with another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, where it killed five.

Search operations for those still missing were halted on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.

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

Researchers have found that the frequency of super-typhoons striking the islands has increased doubled in the past twenty years.

International estimates indicate that severe weather events result in approximately US$3.5 million in damage for the Philippines annually.

The nation’s leader issued an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the extensive devastation caused by the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.