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The Philippines has been hit hard by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left a minimum of two fatalities and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.

Authorities reported that the powerful weather system caused widespread flash flooding, coastal inundation, landslides, and destructive gale-force winds, prompting the evacuation of millions of people nationwide.

Widespread Damage and Rescue Efforts

In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, disaster response teams documented floodwaters climbing to 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 low-lying neighbourhood,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was about to be ripped off by the wind. We saved him and four relatives.”

By Monday, authorities confirmed at least two deaths: a drowning victim on the island and a second individual killed after her home gave way in eastern Samar.

Storm Intensity and Forecast

The intense storm was downgraded to a severe tropical storm early Monday while moving over the main island, home to the national capital.

According to meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed 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 indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction on buildings and roads.

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

Recent Context and Environmental Factors

The typhoon hit shortly following another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people with another 135 missing before moving on to Vietnam, causing five deaths there.

Searches for the missing persons were halted on Sunday over risks for rescue workers.

The climate crisis is making cyclones more intense and frequent. Fung-wong is the 21st typhoon to hit the Philippines this year.

Scientists report that the rate of intense cyclones hitting the Philippines has increased by more than 100% in the past twenty years.

International estimates indicate that intense storms result in an average of US$3.5 million in damage to the country annually.

The Philippine president declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.