More than 900,000 people were evacuated from vulnerable areas in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Fung-wong, known locally as Uwan, approached the main island of Luzon. Work and classes were suspended in various regions, including Metro Manila. The typhoon was expected to make landfall in Aurora province on Sunday night, following the recent devastation from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which caused 224 deaths in the Philippines and five in Vietnam.
Fung-wong had sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph) and gusts of up to 230 kph (140 mph), affecting many parts of Luzon with heavy rain. Authorities raised the highest alert, Signal No. 5, in southeastern and central areas, while Metro Manila was under Signal No. 3. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro urged residents in the storm’s path to follow evacuation orders, emphasizing the dangers of non-compliance.
Fung-wong was the 21st storm to hit the Philippines this year. Officials aimed to prevent casualties as they continued to assist survivors of Typhoon Kalmaegi. The military redeployed about 2,000 troops to focus on disaster response. In Isabela, families took shelter in evacuation centers. People expressed fear for their safety, recalling past floods. Stormy conditions resulted in power outages in the Eastern Visayas, and nearly 400 flights were canceled.
With information from Reuters