Super Typhoon Fung-wong slams the Philippines, bringing floods, landslides, and massive evacuations

A night of destruction across Luzon

Super Typhoon Fung-wong swept through northern Philippines over the weekend, tearing roofs from houses, flooding villages and forcing more than 1.4 million people to flee their homes. At least eight people were killed as the storm unleashed torrential rain, mudslides and winds that howled through the night.

It made landfall late Sunday in Aurora Province, its sustained winds reaching 185 kilometers per hour and gusts topping 230 kilometers per hour. By midnight, entire coastal villages were under water. Metal roofing tore through the air. Power lines snapped. Trees bent and broke.

Nueva Vizcaya Province suffered some of the worst damage — three children were killed in landslides there, and several others injured. In Mountain Province, an elderly resident died when a mudslide engulfed her home. Two more fatalities were reported in Kalinga Province, where rescuers continued to search for missing people trapped beneath collapsed houses.

Across the north, 132 villages were flooded and entire towns were plunged into darkness after power failed. Officials said over 1,000 homes were damaged. Some residents were seen waiting on rooftops for boats to rescue them as waters rose overnight.

“We could not sleep because of the wind"

In Isabela Province, residents described a terrifying night. “We could not sleep because of the winds hitting our metal sheets and tree branches falling," said Romeo Mariano, who sheltered with his grandmother. “When we got out to check, we saw the damage — roofs gone, walls cracked, everything soaked."

Emergency crews worked through the night, cutting through fallen trees and debris to reach isolated mountain villages. The Office of Civil Defense said rescue and relief operations would continue today as weather conditions gradually improve.

A nation already exhausted by Kalmaegi

The impact of Fung-wong came only days after Typhoon Kalmaegi killed 224 people in central Philippines and pushed into Vietnam. With roads still blocked and thousands homeless from the previous storm, the arrival of another super typhoon has deepened the country’s crisis.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency last week, mobilizing troops and resources for disaster response. Schools and government offices were ordered closed. The coast guard banned ships from sailing as waves topped six meters.

Air travel was also paralyzed — more than 325 domestic and 61 international flights were canceled, leaving 6,600 passengers and workers stranded in ports and terminals throughout the archipelago.

Storm weakens but threat remains

By Monday morning, the typhoon had weakened as it crossed the mountainous terrain of northern Luzon. Meteorologists from PAGASA reported winds dropping to 120-150 kilometers per hour, yet warned that its outer bands would still bring heavy rains and rough seas through Tuesday.

Forecasters expect the storm to continue moving northwest toward Taiwan’s west coast. Authorities there have already ordered evacuations in Guangfu Township, where deadly flooding struck just weeks ago.

Scientists warn of warmer oceans and stronger typhoons

Fung-wong is the 21st tropical system to hit the Philippines this year, a reminder of the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather. Experts say warming seas are fueling more intense storms in the western Pacific.

Matthew England, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales, said ocean temperatures in the region have remained well above average. “If the oceans are warming as they are because of climate change, that is intensifying the magnitude and ferocity of these typhoons," he noted.

Scientists also warn that back-to-back storms — Kalmaegi and Fung-wong — may represent a new pattern of shorter intervals between severe cyclones, making recovery harder for already flood-weary communities.

Relief and recovery efforts under way

The Office of Civil Defense said 318,000 people remain in evacuation centers, while many others are staying with relatives as repairs begin. Roads blocked by landslides and fallen trees are being cleared, and power crews are working to restore electricity to cut-off areas.

Officials warn that saturated ground and unstable slopes could still trigger new landslides in the coming days. Both Japan and the United States have offered assistance for the recovery phase, though the Philippine government has not yet requested international aid.

In the aftermath, the air is still thick with the smell of mud and salt. Generators hum in the dark. Families pick through what remains of their homes as the floodwaters recede. The typhoon has moved on — but its marks remain etched across Luzon.