Super Typhoon Fung-wong hits Philippines after deadly storm Kalmaegi ravages Southeast Asia
Super Typhoon Fung-wong (locally known as "Uwan") has slammed into the Philippines' eastern seaboard, cutting power and prompting the evacuation of over a million people. The new storm, which made landfall in Aurora province, compounds a crisis already worsened by Typhoon Kalmaegi, which recently killed 204 people in the Philippines and at least five in Vietnam. Authorities have declared a national state of emergency as the nation braces for widespread devastation.
More than a million people across the Philippines have evacuated vulnerable areas as Super Typhoon Fung-wong strikes the eastern seaboard, bringing heavy rains and strong winds that have cut power in large areas of the Bicol region. The storm, known locally as "Uwan," made landfall in Aurora province on the main island of Luzon on Sunday evening.
The storm, with a radius spanning nearly the whole country, battered parts of Luzon, the Philippines’ most populous island, with sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) and gusts of up to 230 kilometers per hour (140 mph). At least two people have been killed in the Philippines amid the initial impact.
The arrival of Fung-wong follows days after Typhoon Kalmaegi left a trail of devastation across Southeast Asia, killing 204 people in the Philippines and at least five in Vietnam.
More areas across Luzon were immediately placed under the highest storm warning levels, while Metro Manila and nearby provinces remained at an elevated warning level. Several airports have been closed as a safety precaution. Authorities reported fatalities, including one person who drowned and a woman found trapped under debris of a collapsed home.
State of Emergency and Regional Devastation
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of national emergency, as authorities warn that Fung-wong could blanket nearly the entire country. Officials urged residents in coastal and low-lying areas to seek safety.
Fung-wong is the 21st storm this year to hit the nation. It is expected to head northwest from Monday and then move north by Tuesday, maintaining typhoon intensity. The storm is projected to move towards the Taiwan Strait by Wednesday, weakening before eventual landfall in western Taiwan.
The devastation left by Typhoon Kalmaegi was immense. In the Philippines, the storm displaced more than half a million people, with nearly 450,000 seeking shelter as search crews continued looking for over 100 missing people.
In Vietnam, the previous storm resulted in five deaths and three missing people, destroying or damaging nearly 2,600 homes and cutting power to more than 1.6 million households. Authorities reported that over 537,000 Vietnamese had been evacuated before Kalmaegi hit.
The Philippines and Vietnam, two of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, face typhoons almost yearly. Scientists warn that climate change is causing stronger and more frequent storms.
