Super Typhoon Fung-wong made landfall on the northeastern coast of the Philippines on Sunday, causing the deaths of at least two individuals and prompting over a million residents to evacuate from flood- and landslide-prone regions. The massive storm hit Dinalungan town in Aurora province on Sunday night, bringing sustained winds of up to 185 km/h and gusts reaching 230 km/h after unleashing heavy rain and wind throughout the day in northeastern Philippine provinces.
This typhoon, known as Uwan in the Philippines, is the most significant threat to the country this year, affecting approximately two-thirds of the Southeast Asian archipelago with its wide-reaching rain and wind band. Fung-wong arrived from the Pacific as the Philippines was still reeling from the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which resulted in significant casualties in central island provinces before moving on to impact Vietnam.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency due to the extensive damage caused by Kalmaegi and the anticipated impact of Fung-wong. Classified as a super typhoon due to sustained winds exceeding 185 km/h, Fung-wong prompted the evacuation of over 916,860 individuals from high-risk areas in northeastern provinces, including regions vulnerable to cyclones and mudflows from active volcanoes.
Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. cautioned about the potentially catastrophic effects of Fung-wong and urged residents to comply with evacuation orders to mitigate risks of flash floods, landslides, and coastal surges. Concerns were raised about the storm’s potential impact on densely populated areas like Cebu and metropolitan Manila.
Local Red Cross chapters established more than 500 evacuation centers, housing nearly 21,000 families, as part of disaster response efforts. The organization, already having managed multiple disasters this year, including Kalmaegi and an earthquake in Cebu, deployed equipment to aid in debris clearance and rescue operations.
Authorities in northern provinces bracing for Fung-wong’s impact preemptively closed schools and government offices. Flash floods, power outages, and blocked roads were reported in several areas, exacerbating the dire situation faced by communities already struggling to recover from previous disasters.
Flight cancellations, stranded commuters, and warnings of life-threatening storm surges underscored the severity of the situation, with authorities cautioning about potential damages and risks posed by the typhoon. The Philippines, prone to frequent typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic activity, faces ongoing challenges in managing natural disasters.