At least six people have died after a super typhoon barreled through the Philippines, only days following another storm that left over 200 casualties. Super typhoon Fung-wong caused floods and landslides, primarily responsible for the fatalities, and resulted in power outages across entire provinces as it made landfall.
More than 1.4 million individuals were evacuated as the typhoon approached, and it is now en route to Taiwan, which has also initiated evacuations for over 3,000 residents.
Fung-wong, known locally as Uwan, hit the Aurora province on Luzon late Sunday, with sustained winds reaching 185 km/h (115 mph) and gusts peaking at 230 km/h. The Philippine meteorological agency had previously warned of destructive winds and life-threatening storm surges.
In Cabanatuan, one of the most affected areas, residents were seen urgently moving furniture and pets to higher ground as floodwaters rose. Though not among the strongest storms in Philippine history, Fung-wong dumped significant rain, damaging or destroying around 4,100 homes.
Reports indicate that large areas continue to be submerged in water, although levels were dropping as of Tuesday morning. The continuous cycle of disaster has raised concerns among authorities, with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies highlighting the urgent need for support to aid recovery efforts in this vulnerable nation.
This calamity follows closely on the heels of typhoon Kalmaegi, which had a similar devastating impact just days prior, alongside the aftermath of a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu in September. These back-to-back disasters underline the escalating risks faced by the Philippines due to climate change and other factors.
