Typhoon Fung-wong has moved away from the northwestern Philippines on Monday after causing floods, landslides, power outages, and claiming at least eight lives while displacing over 1.4 million people. The typhoon is expected to travel northwest towards Taiwan.
Fung-wong hit the northern Philippines while the nation was still recovering from the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which resulted in the deaths of at least 224 individuals in central provinces before impacting Vietnam, where five people lost their lives.
After making landfall in northeastern Aurora province on Sunday night as a super typhoon with sustained winds up to 185 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 230 kilometers per hour, the storm weakened as it traversed through mountainous northern provinces and agricultural areas overnight. It then moved away from the province of La Union into the South China Sea, as reported by state forecasters.
Tragic incidents included one individual drowning in flash floods in Catanduanes, another person dying in Catbalogan city due to a collapsed house, and three children losing their lives in two separate landslides in Nueva Vizcaya. Additionally, an elderly individual died in a mudslide in Barlig, a town in Mountain Province.
Further landslides in Lubuagan town in Kalinga province resulted in the deaths of two villagers with two others missing, according to provincial officials. Over 1.4 million people sought refuge in emergency shelters or with relatives before the typhoon hit land, with approximately 318,000 individuals still in evacuation centers as of Monday.
The storm caused severe damage, with fierce winds and rain leading to flooding in 132 northern villages. Around 1,000 houses were damaged, and roads blocked by landslides were expected to be cleared once weather conditions improved.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency due to the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and anticipated damage from Fung-wong, also known as Uwan in the Philippines. In the Philippines, tropical cyclones with sustained winds exceeding 185 kilometers per hour are classified as super typhoons to emphasize the urgency surrounding extreme weather events.
The Philippines has not requested international assistance following the destruction caused by Kalmaegi, although the United States and Japan have expressed readiness to provide aid. Schools, government offices, and flights were suspended, and numerous individuals were stranded due to canceled transportation services as a precautionary measure.
The Philippines is frequently affected by natural disasters, experiencing around 20 typhoons annually along with earthquakes and having multiple active volcanoes, making it one of the most disaster-prone countries globally.