A massive super typhoon has struck the Philippines, battering the country with violent winds and torrential rain. Authorities warn of “life-threatening conditions” as the storm moves across the nation’s largest island.
Bicol Region Takes the First Hit
Typhoon Fung Wong, with sustained winds reaching 185 km/h, is pounding several provinces, according to the national weather bureau Pagasa. The eastern Bicol region was first to be hit on Sunday morning. Luzon, the country’s most populated island, is expected to face the storm’s full strength by nightfall.
Locally called Uwan, the storm comes only days after Typhoon Kalmaegi left widespread devastation, killing nearly 200 people. Schools across the country have cancelled classes or shifted to online learning, while Philippine Airlines grounded several domestic flights in advance.
Pagasa said Fung Wong may weaken slightly after landfall but will remain a typhoon as it travels over Luzon. Strong winds and heavy rain have already been reported in eastern areas since Saturday evening.
Evacuations Underway as Coasts Prepare for Impact
Officials have ordered residents in low-lying and coastal communities to evacuate immediately. On Catanduanes Island in the Bicol region, emergency workers reported extreme weather early Sunday.
In Aurora province, 21-year-old hotel employee Hagunoy described how police checked repeatedly to make sure all hotels along the coast were evacuated. By Sunday morning, the beaches and resorts were deserted as locals braced for the storm expected around midnight.
The tide rose rapidly through the day. Hagunoy said he would stay to protect the property before leaving on his motorbike once conditions worsened. Staff tied windows with ropes and secured gates to keep them from breaking under the strong winds.
Storm Forces Suspension of Rescue Operations
Fung Wong’s arrival has halted rescue missions still ongoing after Typhoon Kalmaegi, one of the year’s most destructive storms. Torrential rain triggered landslides and flash floods that destroyed entire neighborhoods.
At least 204 people have been confirmed dead, and more than 100 are still missing. In Vietnam, five people also died after strong winds uprooted trees, tore off roofs, and shattered windows.
Government Declares State of Calamity Nationwide
The Philippine government has declared a nationwide state of calamity after the destruction caused by Kalmaegi and ahead of Fung Wong’s full impact. The declaration allows faster access to emergency funds and speeds up aid distribution to affected areas.
Many residents, still traumatized by Kalmaegi, are frightened of the new storm. “We decided to evacuate because the last typhoon flooded our house. I just want to keep my family safe,” said Norlito Dugan, now sheltering in a church in Sorsogon, Luzon.
Another evacuee, Maxine Dugan, said: “The waves near my home are huge. I live close to the shore. The winds are strong, and the water keeps rising.”
Warming Oceans Intensify Typhoons in the Pacific
The Philippines sits 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 each year, and roughly half strike the country.
Experts say climate change does not increase the number of storms but makes them stronger. Warmer ocean temperatures and rising air heat intensify typhoons, creating faster winds, heavier rainfall, and higher risks of coastal flooding.
