Typhoon Fung-wong has departed the northwestern Philippines after causing floods and landslides, leading to power outages in entire provinces, claiming at least eight lives, and displacing over 1.4 million people. The typhoon was expected to move northwest towards Taiwan.
Fung-wong struck the northern Philippines while the nation was still recovering from the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which resulted in around 224 fatalities in central provinces before affecting Vietnam. Fung-wong made landfall in northeastern Aurora province as a super typhoon with sustained winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching 230 kilometers per hour.
The storm weakened as it crossed mountainous northern regions and agricultural areas before moving away from La Union province into the South China Sea, according to state meteorologists. Tragic incidents were reported, including drownings, landslides, house collapses, and casualties in various provinces.
Over 1.4 million individuals sought safety in emergency shelters or with relatives before the typhoon’s arrival, with approximately 318,000 still housed in evacuation centers. Severe winds and rain affected 132 northern villages, resulting in flooding and property damages. Efforts to clear roads blocked by landslides were underway as the weather conditions improved.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency due to the extensive destruction caused by Kalmaegi and the anticipated impact of Fung-wong, also known as Uwan in the Philippines. The classification of tropical cyclones with sustained winds exceeding 185 kilometers per hour as super typhoons underscores the urgency associated with severe weather events.
While no international aid request has been made following Kalmaegi’s devastation, the United States and Japan have expressed readiness to provide assistance. Closures of schools and most government offices were announced, along with the cancellation of numerous flights and stranded commuters at ports due to rough sea conditions. The Philippines, prone to frequent typhoons, storms, earthquakes, and active volcanoes, remains one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.
