Super Typhoon Fung-wong made landfall on the northeastern coast of the Philippines, resulting in two confirmed fatalities and over a million evacuations from flood- and landslide-prone areas. The 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 strong winds across northeastern provinces throughout the day.
This super typhoon, which spans 1,600 kilometers wide, is the most significant threat to the Philippines this year, affecting a large portion of the country. Its arrival followed the recent devastation caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi, which claimed the lives of at least 224 individuals in central island provinces before moving on to Vietnam, where five more fatalities were reported.
Given the extensive damage caused by Kalmaegi and the anticipated impact of Fung-wong, also known as Uwan in the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency. The storm was first detected near Pandan in eastern Catanduanes province, prompting the evacuation of over 916,860 residents from high-risk areas in northeastern provinces, including Bicol.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. emphasized the potential catastrophic effects of Fung-wong, urging immediate evacuation from vulnerable regions prone to flash floods and landslides. The Office of Civil Defence estimated that more than 30 million people could be at risk from the storm.
While the Philippines has not requested international assistance, Teodoro mentioned that the United States and Japan were prepared to offer support. Local Red Cross chapters have set up over 500 evacuation centers, accommodating nearly 21,000 families, as the country braces for the impact of Fung-wong.
Richard Gordon, the chair of Red Cross Philippines, stated that two individuals had already succumbed to the storm, with expectations of further casualties as Fung-wong intensifies. Power outages were reported in several eastern towns and villages as the storm approached, prompting preemptive closures of schools and government offices in northern provinces.
With flash floods, power outages, and blocked roads affecting communities, the situation was described as dire by Reiza Dejito, the country director for CARE Philippines. As Fung-wong continues to pose risks, authorities have issued warnings of life-threatening storm surges along coastal regions, including metropolitan Manila.
The Philippines, prone to natural disasters, faces an average of about 20 typhoons annually, along with seismic activity and volcanic eruptions, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.