Typhoon Fung-wong, locally known as Uwan, made landfall in the Philippines as a super typhoon, bringing sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and gusts up to 230 km/h (143 mph).
The storm struck Aurora province on Luzon, the country’s most populous island, at 21:10 local time on Sunday, prompting the evacuation of more than 900,000 people and leaving two confirmed dead.
Fung-wong follows closely on the heels of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 204 people and left over 100 missing.
Officials warned of destructive winds, life-threatening storm surges, and heavy rainfall as the typhoon moved north-west across Luzon, with more than 200mm of rain expected in some areas, including 100-200mm in Metro Manila. This raises the risk of severe flooding and landslides, particularly in low-lying and coastal communities.
Residents across the Bicol region, including the island of Catanduanes, were urged to seek higher ground.
In central Aurora, more than 200 evacuees sheltered in a sports centre, many of them parents with young children too young to remember the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Some residents, such as hotel staff in Sabang, stayed briefly to secure properties before evacuating.
The typhoon forced the closure of multiple airports and the cancellation of almost 300 flights. Emergency services and the Filipino Coast Guard led evacuations, while the government declared a state of calamity to accelerate access to emergency funds and essential supplies.
Fung-wong’s passage has also disrupted ongoing rescue efforts in areas affected by Kalmaegi, where flash floods and mudslides devastated poorer neighbourhoods. In Vietnam, five people have died as strong winds uprooted trees and damaged homes.
The Philippines faces around 20 tropical cyclones each year, half of which make landfall. While climate change does not increase their frequency, warmer oceans and a hotter atmosphere can intensify storms, producing higher wind speeds, heavier rainfall, and greater coastal flooding.
Authorities continue to monitor the storm closely, urging residents to take precautions and remain in shelters as Fung-wong moves north-west, potentially crossing Taiwan later this week.
