Typhoon Fung-wong departed from the northwestern Philippines on Monday after causing floods and landslides, leading to power outages in entire provinces, and resulting in at least eight fatalities 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 impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which caused significant destruction in central provinces, resulting in a death toll of at least 224 people before hitting Vietnam, where five individuals lost their lives.
The super typhoon made landfall in northeastern Aurora province on Sunday night with sustained winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching 230 kilometers per hour. As it moved through mountainous northern provinces and agricultural areas, the storm weakened before moving into the South China Sea.
Tragic incidents included a person drowning in flash floods in Catanduanes, another individual dying in Catbalogan city due to a house collapse, and three children perishing in landslides in Nueva Vizcaya. Additionally, an elderly person lost their life in a mudslide in Barlig, Mountain Province.
Further casualties occurred with two villagers dying in a landslide in Lubuagan town, Kalinga province, while two others were reported missing. Over 1.4 million people sought shelter before the typhoon hit, with around 318,000 individuals remaining in evacuation centers.
Severe wind and rain affected 132 villages in the north, with approximately 1,000 houses damaged. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency due to the widespread damage caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated destruction from Fung-wong, also known as Uwan in the Philippines.
The Philippines defines tropical cyclones with sustained winds exceeding 185 kilometers per hour as super typhoons to highlight the seriousness of extreme weather events. Despite the devastation, international aid was not requested, although the United States and Japan offered assistance.
Schools, government offices, and flights were suspended, while thousands of commuters were stranded as the coast guard restricted maritime activities due to rough seas. The Philippines faces numerous natural disasters annually, including typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations.