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The Philippines has been hit hard by Intense Cyclone Fung-wong, resulting in at least two people dead and forced the evacuation of over a million residents.

Authorities stated that the massive storm triggered extensive sudden floods, storm surges, landslides, and fierce high-velocity gusts, leading to the evacuation of millions of residents across the country.

Extensive Destruction and Rescue Efforts

In Pandan, Catanduanes, a severely affected area, emergency crews documented rising waters reaching the tops of houses and homes being swept away by the powerful currents.

Our team saved fourteen people stranded on the roof surrounded by water in a flood-prone area,” a disaster-mitigation officer explained. “A father frantically contacted us, reporting his home’s roof was about to be ripped off due to the storm. We rescued him along with four family members.”

As of Monday morning, authorities confirmed two fatalities: one from drowning on the island and a second individual who died when her house collapsed on Samar island.

Storm Intensity and Projected Path

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

According to meteorological authorities, its maximum winds decreased from 115 mph to 102 mph, though wind bursts were still reaching more than 275 km/h.

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

Relief and Assessment

The national disaster response service indicated it was still working to evaluate destruction to infrastructure and homes.

Approximately thousands of shelters have been opened to temporarily house tens of thousands of households.

Recent Context and Climate Impact

Fung-wong struck just days after another severe storm, which killed at least 224 people with another 135 missing before moving on toward Vietnam, causing five deaths there.

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

Global warming is making tropical storms more intense and common. Fung-wong is the twenty-first storm to impact the nation this year.

Scientists report that the rate of intense cyclones striking the islands has increased doubled over the last two decades.

International estimates indicate that intense storms cause an average of millions in dollars in damage for the Philippines annually.

The Philippine president declared an emergency declaration last week due to the severe damage from the prior typhoon and the expected damage from the new storm.