A monstrous storm has slammed into the Philippines after being upgraded to a super typhoon. Officials warn of “life-threatening conditions” as the system bears down on the nation’s largest island.
Bicol Faces the First Blow of the Super Typhoon
Typhoon Fung Wong is unleashing sustained winds of 185 km/h and relentless rain, according to the national weather agency Pagasa. The eastern Bicol region was the first to face the storm’s direct hit early Sunday. Luzon, the most populated island, is expected to be battered by nightfall.
Known locally as Uwan, the typhoon comes only days after Kalmaegi devastated several regions and killed nearly 200 people. Schools across the country have cancelled classes or moved online. Philippine Airlines also grounded numerous domestic flights as the storm approached.
Pagasa predicts that Fung Wong will weaken after landfall but remain a typhoon as it crosses Luzon. Eastern provinces have already experienced heavy rains and strong winds since Saturday evening.
Evacuations Ordered as Coastlines Prepare for Impact
Officials have urged thousands of residents in coastal and low-lying areas to evacuate to safer ground. On Catanduanes Island in Bicol, extreme weather hit by Sunday morning.
In Aurora province on Luzon’s east coast, 21-year-old hotel worker Hagunoy said police visited repeatedly to ensure all hotels were cleared of guests. By Sunday morning, once-busy resorts stood empty as locals braced for impact expected around midnight.
The tide rose dramatically. Hagunoy said he would stay to guard the property before leaving on his motorbike once it became unsafe. Staff tied windows with ropes and secured gates to prevent glass from shattering in the wind.
Rescue Operations Suspended After Kalmaegi’s Deadly Path
Fung Wong has forced the suspension of rescue missions that began after Typhoon Kalmaegi, one of this year’s strongest storms. Torrential rain triggered landslides and flash floods that swept through entire neighborhoods.
At least 204 people died during Kalmaegi, with more than 100 still missing. In Vietnam, five people also lost their lives as the storm uprooted trees, tore off roofs, and smashed windows.
Philippine Government Declares State of Calamity
The government declared a nationwide state of calamity after the destruction caused by Kalmaegi and in preparation for Fung Wong’s impact. This measure speeds up access to emergency funds and the delivery of essential goods.
Many Filipinos, still recovering from Kalmaegi, fear the incoming typhoon. “We decided to evacuate because the last storm flooded our house. I just want my family safe,” said Norlito Dugan, who is now 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 fierce, and the sea is rising fast.”
Warming Seas Create Stronger and Deadlier Storms
The Philippines sits in one of the world’s most typhoon-prone zones, directly in the path of Pacific storms. Around 20 tropical cyclones form in the region each year, and roughly half hit the country.
Experts say climate change does not increase the number of typhoons but makes them more intense. Warmer seas and rising air temperatures strengthen storms, bringing heavier rain, faster winds, and higher coastal flooding risks.
