Typhoon Fung-wong Leaves Philippines Reeling: At Least Four Dead, 1.4 Million Displaced

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Fung-wong swept through the northwestern Philippines on Monday, leaving floods, landslides, and widespread power outages in its wake. At least four people have died, while more than 1.4 million residents were displaced as the storm barreled across the region. The typhoon is forecast to continue northwest toward Taiwan.

Fung-wong struck as a super typhoon, with sustained winds of up to 185 kph (115 mph) and gusts reaching 230 kph (143 mph), just days after the country was hit by Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 224 people in central provinces before moving on to Vietnam, where five more lives were lost.

Devastation Across Northern Provinces

The typhoon made landfall in Aurora province on Sunday night, before weakening slightly as it moved across northern mountains and agricultural plains.

• In Catanduanes, one person drowned in flash floods.

• In Catbalogan city, Samar, a woman died when her home collapsed.

• In Nueva Vizcaya, a landslide buried a hillside hut in Kayapa town, killing two children and injuring their parents and sibling.

Authorities reported flooding in 132 villages, with some residents trapped on rooftops as waters rose rapidly. Approximately 1,000 houses were damaged, and blocked roads from landslides were being cleared as conditions improved.

“While the typhoon has passed, its rains still pose a danger in certain areas,” said Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV of the Office of Civil Defense. “We'll undertake rescue, relief, and disaster-response operations today.”

Widespread Disruption

Before the storm hit, more than 1.4 million people moved to emergency shelters or stayed with relatives, with around 318,000 remaining in evacuation centers on Monday.

• Schools and government offices were closed on Monday and Tuesday.

• Over 325 domestic flights and 61 international flights were canceled.

• More than 6,600 commuters and cargo workers were stranded in ports due to rough seas.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had earlier declared a state of emergency due to the twin impacts of Kalmaegi and Fung-wong.

Typhoon Preparedness

The Philippines experiences about 20 typhoons and storms each year and is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations. Despite the devastation, the government has not requested international aid, though allies like the United States and Japan are on standby to assist if needed.