Typhoon Fung-wong exited the northwestern Philippines on Monday following severe impacts including floods, landslides, power outages affecting whole provinces, and the tragic loss of at least eight lives while displacing over 1.4 million individuals. The typhoon was expected to move northwest towards Taiwan.
Fung-wong struck the northern Philippines amidst recovery efforts from Typhoon Kalmaegi’s destruction, which caused fatalities in central provinces before hitting Vietnam. Fung-wong made landfall in northeastern Aurora province as a super typhoon with sustained winds reaching up to 185 kilometers per hour and gusts of 230 kilometers per hour.
The storm weakened as it traversed mountainous northern regions and agricultural plains before heading into the South China Sea. Tragic incidents included one person drowning in flash floods in Catanduanes, another individual perishing when their house collapsed in Catbalogan city, and multiple casualties from landslides in different provinces.
Over 1.4 million people sought refuge in emergency shelters or with relatives prior to the typhoon, with around 318,000 still in evacuation centers post-impact. The storm caused extensive damage, with 132 villages flooded, homes damaged, and roads blocked by landslides.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency due to the significant destruction caused by the consecutive typhoons. The Philippines categorizes storms with sustained winds exceeding 185 kilometers per hour as super typhoons to emphasize the severity of extreme weather events.
Despite the devastation, the Philippines has not requested international aid. However, the United States and Japan have expressed readiness to provide assistance. Schools and government offices were closed, flights canceled, and maritime activities disrupted due to the storm.
The Philippines, known for its susceptibility to natural disasters, experiences approximately 20 typhoons annually, in addition to earthquakes and active volcanoes, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.