A ferocious super typhoon has struck the Philippines, bringing violent winds and relentless rain. Authorities warn of “life-threatening conditions” as the storm sweeps across the country’s largest and most populated island.
Bicol Region Faces the First Wave of Destruction
Typhoon Fung Wong, carrying sustained winds of 185 km/h, is battering several provinces, according to the national weather bureau Pagasa. The eastern Bicol region was the first to experience its full force early Sunday morning. Luzon, the country’s main population center, is expected to face the heaviest impact by nightfall.
Locally known as Uwan, Fung Wong follows only days after Typhoon Kalmaegi devastated communities and killed nearly 200 people. Schools have closed or moved classes online, while Philippine Airlines has cancelled dozens of domestic flights in anticipation of the storm.
Pagasa predicts the typhoon will weaken after landfall but remain a strong system as it moves across Luzon. Eastern provinces have already been battered by heavy rain and strong winds since Saturday evening.
Evacuations Ordered as Coastal Towns Brace for Impact
Authorities have urged residents in low-lying and coastal areas to evacuate immediately. On Catanduanes Island in the Bicol region, emergency teams reported extreme conditions early Sunday.
In Aurora province, 21-year-old hotel worker Hagunoy said police repeatedly checked to ensure all coastal hotels were cleared. By Sunday morning, resorts and beaches were deserted as residents prepared for landfall expected around midnight.
Tides surged sharply during the day. Hagunoy said he would stay to guard the property before leaving on his motorbike once conditions became too dangerous. Staff tied windows with ropes and reinforced gates to prevent glass from shattering in the wind.
Rescue Efforts Halted After Kalmaegi’s Devastation
Fung Wong has forced the suspension of rescue operations still underway after Typhoon Kalmaegi, one of the strongest storms this year. Torrential rain triggered deadly landslides and flash floods that destroyed entire neighborhoods.
At least 204 people have been confirmed dead, while more than 100 remain missing. In Vietnam, five people also died as strong winds uprooted trees, tore off roofs, and shattered windows.
Philippine Government Declares State of Calamity
The government has declared a nationwide state of calamity after Kalmaegi’s destruction and in preparation for Fung Wong’s impact. The declaration allows faster access to emergency funds and accelerates delivery of aid to affected communities.
Many residents still traumatized by Kalmaegi remain fearful. “We decided to evacuate because the last typhoon flooded our home. I just want my family safe,” said Norlito Dugan, sheltering in a church in Sorsogon, Luzon.
Another evacuee, Maxine Dugan, said: “The waves near my home are enormous. I live close to the shore. The winds are strong, and the sea keeps rising.”
Climate Change Makes Typhoons More Intense
The Philippines lies directly on the Pacific typhoon belt, making it one of the most disaster-prone nations in the world. Around 20 tropical cyclones form in the region annually, with roughly half striking the country.
Experts say climate change may not increase the number of storms but makes them stronger. Warmer oceans and higher air temperatures intensify typhoons, producing stronger winds, heavier rainfall, and more destructive coastal flooding.
