Super Typhoon Fung-wong made landfall on Sunday along the northeastern coast of the Philippines, unleashing destructive winds, heavy rains, and widespread flooding that forced more than a million people to flee their homes. At least two deaths were reported, and authorities warned that the danger from storm surges and landslides would continue as the massive system moved inland.
The storm struck the town of Dinalungan in Aurora province with sustained winds of about 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) and gusts reaching 230 km/h (143 mph). Covering nearly two-thirds of the country, Fung-wong — known locally as Uwan — is among the largest and most powerful storms to hit the Philippines in recent years. Its arrival comes just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi devastated central provinces, killing more than 220 people and leaving hundreds missing.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national state of emergency to accelerate relief operations and allow agencies to access disaster funds. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. urged residents to heed evacuation orders, warning that rescue operations would be more difficult once flooding and landslides began. “We ask everyone to evacuate early,” he said. “When the rains intensify and rivers overflow, it becomes dangerous not only for residents but also for rescuers.”
Over 1.2 million people were preemptively evacuated from vulnerable coastal and mountain areas, particularly in the Bicol region, which is frequently hit by typhoons and volcanic mudflows from nearby Mount Mayon. In the eastern provinces of Catanduanes and Samar, rescue workers battled fierce winds and flash floods to reach trapped residents. One villager drowned in rising waters, while another was killed when debris struck her home.
Local officials described harrowing conditions. “The rain and wind were so strong there was almost zero visibility,” said Roberto Monterola, a disaster officer in Catanduanes. “We rescued families clinging to rooftops as floodwaters surged through neighborhoods.”
Electricity and communications were cut off in many towns across eastern Luzon. Schools and government offices were closed, while hundreds of flights were canceled. The coast guard suspended ferry operations, leaving more than 6,000 travelers and cargo workers stranded in ports. Authorities warned that storm surges could exceed three meters (nearly ten feet) along parts of Luzon’s eastern coastline, including metropolitan Manila.
In Aurora province, residents spent Sunday boarding up windows and reinforcing homes ahead of the nighttime landfall. “What scares us most is that we won’t be able to see the storm coming in the dark,” said Aries Ora, a government worker in Dipaculao.
The Philippine weather bureau forecast up to 200 millimeters (eight inches) of rainfall in northern and central regions, raising fears of flooding in urban areas and landslides in mountain communities. Though Fung-wong is expected to weaken as it crosses Luzon, it is likely to remain a typhoon as it moves toward the South China Sea.
The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, endures around 20 tropical cyclones every year. Scientists warn that warmer ocean temperatures linked to climate change are making such storms stronger and wetter, heightening the risk for coastal and low-lying communities. For now, the focus remains on saving lives as the country braces for yet another round of destruction.
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