At least two fatalities have been reported in the Philippines due to Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which has significantly impacted the Bicol region with heavy rains and strong winds, disrupting power supplies. Over a million individuals have evacuated from vulnerable areas ahead of the storm’s anticipated landfall in Aurora province. The typhoon is characterized by sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph) and gusts reaching up to 230 kph (140 mph). Various regions in Luzon, the Philippines’ most populous island, have been placed under high storm warnings, while Metro Manila and its surrounding areas remain at a level 3 alert. In preparation, multiple airports, including Bicol International Airport, have been closed.
Two casualties have occurred: one person drowned in Catanduanes, and another was killed when a home collapsed in Catbalogan City. Fung-wong, locally referred to as Uwan, marks the 21st storm to affect the Philippines this year. The ongoing storm threatens to complicate disaster response efforts as the nation is still recovering from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which caused 224 deaths in the Philippines and five in Vietnam.
Weather forecasts predict that Fung-wong will continue moving northwest on Monday, shifting north by Tuesday before possibly weakening as it approaches Taiwan. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro emphasized the importance of heeding evacuation orders, stressing that neglecting such warnings is both dangerous and unlawful. Civil defense officials, aiming to minimize casualties, have redeployed approximately 2,000 military personnel to provide humanitarian aid and respond to the disaster. Across Luzon, evacuees, such as Christopher Sanchez and his family, have sought shelter in repurposed evacuation centers, underscoring the community’s fear of potential flooding associated with the storm.
With information from Reuters
