Typhoon Fung-wong departed from the northwestern Philippines on Monday after causing floods and landslides, leading to power outages in entire provinces. The storm resulted in at least eight fatalities and displaced over 1.4 million individuals. Its trajectory was projected to move northwest towards Taiwan.
Fung-wong struck the northern Philippines while the nation was still reeling from the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which claimed the lives of at least 224 people in central provinces before hitting Vietnam, where five casualties were reported. Making landfall in northeastern Aurora province as a super typhoon with sustained winds reaching 185 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 230 kilometers per hour, the storm weakened as it traversed mountainous regions and agricultural lands before moving towards the South China Sea.
Tragic incidents occurred during the storm, including a drowning in flash floods in Catanduanes, a fatality in Catbalogan city due to a collapsed house, and multiple deaths in landslides across various provinces. Emergency shelters housed more than 1.4 million people ahead of the typhoon, with around 318,000 individuals still in evacuation centers. The storm caused severe damage, flooding numerous villages and damaging over 1,000 houses.
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, locally known as Uwan. Tropical cyclones with sustained winds exceeding 185 kilometers per hour are classified as super typhoons in the Philippines, highlighting the severity of such extreme weather events.
Despite the devastation, international aid has not been requested by the Philippines; however, the United States and Japan have expressed readiness to provide assistance. School closures, flight cancellations, and stranded commuters were reported, with authorities shutting down schools and most government offices. The Philippines, facing around 20 typhoons annually, is prone to natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, with over a dozen active volcanoes in the region.
