The island nation was severely impacted by Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which left at least two people dead and displaced over a million residents.
Officials reported that the massive storm caused widespread flash flooding, storm surges, mudslides, and fierce gale-force winds, leading to the relocation of 1.4 million residents across the country.
Widespread Damage and Emergency Operations
In the town of Pandan, one of the worst-hit regions, disaster response teams documented floodwaters reaching the tops of houses and homes washed out by strong flows.
“Our personnel saved 14 individuals stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer stated. One resident frantically contacted us, reporting the roof of his house was at risk of tearing away due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”
As of Monday morning, officials announced two fatalities: one from drowning in Catanduanes and a second individual who died after her home gave way in eastern Samar.
Typhoon Strength 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.
Per meteorological authorities, the storm’s sustained wind speed dropped from 185 km/h to 165 km/h, but gusts peaked at over 170 mph.
The cyclone is projected to lose strength as it moves in the direction of Taiwan.
Response and Recovery
The national disaster response service indicated efforts were ongoing to assess damage to infrastructure and homes.
Roughly thousands of shelters were activated to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.
Recent Context and Climate Impact
The typhoon hit just days after another severe storm, that claimed at least 224 people and left another 135 missing prior to advancing toward Vietnam, where it killed five.
Searches for the missing persons were halted recently over risks for rescue workers.
The climate crisis is making tropical storms more intense and frequent. This typhoon marks the 21st typhoon to impact the nation in 2025.
Researchers have found that the frequency of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased by more than 100% over the last two decades.
International estimates suggest that severe weather events result in approximately millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines every year.
The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration on Thursday due to the severe damage caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from the new storm.
