Typhoon Fung-wong exited the northwestern parts of the Philippines on Monday after causing floods and landslides, leading to power outages in entire provinces. The calamity resulted in at least eight fatalities and displaced over 1.4 million individuals. The typhoon was predicted to move northwest towards Taiwan.
Fung-wong struck the northern Philippines while the nation was still recovering from the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which claimed the lives of a minimum of 224 people in central provinces before hitting Vietnam, where at least five casualties were reported.
Having made landfall in northeastern Aurora province on Sunday night as a super typhoon with sustained winds reaching up to 185 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 230 kilometers per hour, Fung-wong weakened as it traversed mountainous northern provinces and agricultural plains overnight. The storm eventually moved away from La Union province into the South China Sea, according to state forecasters.
Tragic incidents included one person drowning in flash floods in Catanduanes province, and another individual losing their life in Catbalogan city when their house collapsed. Additionally, three children perished in separate landslides in Nueva Vizcaya province, while an elderly person succumbed to a mudslide in Barlig, a town in Mountain Province.
Furthermore, a landslide in Lubuagan town in Kalinga province claimed the lives of two villagers, with two others reported missing. Over 1.4 million people sought refuge in emergency shelters or with relatives before the typhoon hit, with around 318,000 individuals still in evacuation centers on Monday.
Destructive winds and heavy rainfall affected 132 northern villages, with numerous residents trapped on their rooftops as floodwaters surged. Approximately 1,000 houses sustained damage. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency due to the widespread devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the anticipated impact of Fung-wong, also known as Uwan in the Philippines.
Tropical cyclones with sustained winds exceeding 185 kilometers per hour are classified as super typhoons in the country to emphasize the severity of such extreme weather events. The Philippines has not yet requested international aid following the calamities, although the United States and Japan have expressed readiness to provide assistance.
Schools and most government offices remained closed on Monday and Tuesday, with over 325 domestic and 61 international flights canceled. Additionally, more than 6,600 commuters and cargo workers were stranded in ports as ships were prohibited from sailing into rough seas. The Philippines, being prone to approximately 20 typhoons and storms annually, faces frequent natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its numerous active volcanoes.
