MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Super Typhoon Fung-wong, the most significant storm threatening the Philippines this year, began to impact the country's northeastern coast on Sunday prior to landfall. The storm has already knocked out power, necessitated the evacuation of nearly a million individuals, and prompted Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to urge more residents to evacuate from high-risk areas before it becomes too late.
Fung-wong, known as Uwan in the Philippines, is expected to cover two-thirds of the archipelago with its wide wind and rain band, spanning 1,600 kilometers (994 miles). It approached the Philippines while the nation was still recovering from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which had devastated central island provinces, resulting in at least 224 fatalities before moving on to Vietnam, where five additional deaths were reported.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency due to the extensive damage caused by Kalmaegi and the impending threats posed by Fung-wong. As of Sunday, the typhoon was reported over coastal waters near Pandan in eastern Catanduanes province, exhibiting winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) and gusts reaching 230 kilometers per hour (143 mph). Meteorological forecasts indicated that Fung-wong would track northwest, likely making landfall on the coasts of Aurora or Isabela province later on Sunday or early Monday.
In the Philippines, tropical cyclones with sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) or higher are classified as super typhoons, a term adopted to highlight the urgency of these extreme weather events. Over 916,860 individuals were evacuated from high-risk villages in northeastern provinces, particularly in the Bicol region—a coastal area particularly susceptible to Pacific cyclones and mudflows from Mayon Volcano, one of the nation’s most active volcanoes.
Defense Secretary Teodoro emphasized the potential catastrophic impact of Fung-wong during a televised address, mentioning that the storm could have effects on a vast area of the country, including Cebu—the central province that bore the brunt of Typhoon Kalmaegi—and metropolitan Manila, the densely populated capital region and financial hub. The Office of Civil Defense estimated that more than 30 million people could face hazards related to Fung-wong.
Teodoro urged citizens to heed evacuation orders from officials, particularly from areas vulnerable to flash floods, landslides, and coastal surges. He stated, "We need to do this because when it’s already raining or the typhoon has hit and flooding has started, it’s hard to rescue people." In light of the preceding devastation caused by Kalmaegi, the Philippines has not requested international assistance, although both the United States and Japan have expressed readiness to provide help.
As Fung-wong approached, various eastern towns and villages experienced power outages. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, noted that several areas lost electricity. In anticipation of Fung-wong’s impact, authorities in northern provinces declared a shutdown of schools and most government offices for Monday and Tuesday. Throughout the weekend, at least 325 domestic flights and 61 international flights were canceled, leaving over 6,600 commuters and cargo workers stranded at 109 seaports, where the coast guard prohibited vessels from entering hazardous waters.
Officials warned of a significant risk of life-threatening storm surges exceeding 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) along the coastlines of more than 20 provinces and regions, including metropolitan Manila. The Philippines experiences approximately 20 typhoons and storms annually. Additionally, the nation frequently faces earthquakes and is home to over a dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the world's most disaster-prone locations.
