Typhoon Fung-wong swept through the northwestern Philippines on Monday, causing floods and landslides, leading to power outages in entire provinces. The storm resulted in a death toll of at least eight people and forced over 1.4 million individuals to seek shelter. Moving towards Taiwan, Fung-wong hit the northern Philippines while the region was still reeling from the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which had caused significant casualties in central provinces and later affected Vietnam.
Fung-wong made landfall as a super typhoon in northeastern Aurora province with sustained winds reaching up to 185 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 230 kilometers per hour. As it traversed mountainous regions and agricultural plains, the storm weakened before dissipating into the South China Sea. Flash floods claimed lives in Catanduanes and Catbalogan city, while landslides in various provinces resulted in additional casualties.
Emergency shelters housed over 1.4 million people before the typhoon’s landfall, with around 318,000 individuals still in evacuation centers post-impact. The storm caused flooding in 132 northern villages, damaging approximately 1,000 homes. Efforts to clear blocked roads and provide relief operations were underway as the weather conditions improved.
In response to the widespread damage caused by the consecutive typhoons, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency. The Philippines categorizes storms with sustained winds exceeding 185 kilometers per hour as super typhoons to emphasize the severity of such extreme weather events.
Despite the devastation, international aid requests have not been made, with the United States and Japan standing by to offer assistance. Schools and government offices were closed, and numerous flights were canceled due to the inclement weather. The Philippines, known for its vulnerability to natural disasters, experiences a high frequency of typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic activities annually.