Tropical Storm Fengshen kills at least five, leaves two missing in the Philippines
Tropical Storm Fengshen (locally named Ramil in the Philippines) crossed Luzon on October 18 and 19, 2025, producing torrential rain, flooding, and landslides. At least five people were killed in Quezon Province, while two others remain missing in Bukidnon after a landslide.
Satellite image of Tropical Storm Fengshen at 23:00 UTC on October 18, 2025. Credit: JMA/Himawari-9, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers
Tropical Storm Fengshen (locally named Ramil in the Philippines) moved across northern and central Philippines on October 18 and 19, bringing widespread heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) bulletins described the storm as a low-intensity system in terms of wind but high in rainfall potential, capable of triggering flash floods, landslides, and localized storm surge along exposed coasts.
PAGASA’s reported cumulative rainfall totals of 150–250 mm (6–10 inches) across southern Luzon and Visayas on October 18 and 19, with isolated totals of over 300 mm (12 inches).
Heavy rainfall and onshore winds caused rivers to rise rapidly in Quezon, Camarines Sur, and Capiz Provinces. Authorities maintained flood and landslide alerts for Region 4A (Calabarzon) and Region 5 (Bicol) through October 20.
Casualties were reported in Pitogo municipality, Quezon Province, where a large tree fell on a bamboo house during the early hours of October 19, killing five members of a single family– including two children–and leaving one survivor.
Elsewhere, at least two people were reported missing in Bukidnon Province after a motorised three-wheeler was swept off a highway by a landslide triggered by continuous rainfall.
A separate fatality occurred in Roxas City, Capiz Province, where a person drowned in floodwaters during the height of the rainfall. Emergency teams also reported widespread inundation of low-lying barangays and multiple incidents of road blockage due to fallen trees and minor slope collapses.
According to JTWC, the storm had one-minute sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph) as of 17:00 PST (09:00 UTC) on October 19.
At the same time, PAGASA reported the center of Fengshen was located 85 km (52 miles) west-northwest of Iba, Zambales. Maximum sustained winds near the center were 65 km/h (40 mph) with gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph). The system had an estimated minimum central pressure of 998 hPa.
The storm was forecast to move west-northwest at 15 km/h (9 mph) toward the South China Sea. PAGASA warned of possible storm surge 1–2m (3–7 feet) along the western coasts of Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, Marinduque, and Occidental Mindoro.
The cyclone is forecast to intensify slightly over the South China Sea during the next 48–72 hours before weakening as it approaches Vietnam.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 22 311 people (7 884 families) were pre-emptively evacuated from Calabarzon and Bicol regions before landfall.
By October 19, widespread power outages were noted in parts of Quezon and Camarines Norte. Some sections of national roads were temporarily closed due to flooding and debris, including portions of the Andaya Highway and Tagkawayan–Del Gallego Road.
PAGASA and JTWC have forecast Fengshen to continue moving west-northwest into the South China Sea on October 20 and 21, heading generally toward central Vietnam, where it could make another landfall.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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