Typhoon Fung-wong kills two, displaces over million in Philippines

November 10, 2025 / 9:19 AM

Sharjah24-AFP: A weakening Typhoon Fung-wong moved away from the Philippines and into the South China Sea on Monday after causing at least two deaths and forcing more than 1.4 million residents to evacuate. The storm, which covered nearly the entire archipelago, made landfall on Sunday evening as a super typhoon, bringing destructive winds, heavy rain, and widespread flooding.

Fung-wong struck Luzon’s eastern coast late Sunday, bringing down trees, flooding towns, and cutting power in provinces such as Aurora, Cagayan, and Catanduanes. Landslides blocked roads and damaged homes. In Aurora, rescue worker Geofry Parrocha said damage assessments started on Monday, noting many houses were damaged and roads were impassable. Mayor Aurora Taay reported homes and boats destroyed by waves in Dingalan overnight. Schools and offices across Luzon, including Manila, closed as a precaution.

Casualties and evacuations

Authorities confirmed two deaths — a 64-year-old woman in Samar province who was crushed by debris while attempting to evacuate, and another person who drowned in flash floods on Catanduanes island. In Cagayan province, residents who had taken shelter in evacuation centres told reports that previous flooding experiences had prompted them to leave early. “When we were told to evacuate, we evacuated because we would be trapped,” said Loretta Salquina.

Turning towards Taiwan

According to the state weather bureau, Fung-wong continued to weaken as it moved westward across the South China Sea and was expected to turn north towards Taiwan later on Monday. Rescue operations remain ongoing in affected regions, including Bicol and Samar, where authorities are still recovering from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which struck just days earlier and caused at least 224 fatalities.

Scenes of devastation

Residents described terrifying scenes as storm surges and floodwaters engulfed coastal towns. “The waves started roaring around 7:00 a.m.,” said Edson Casarino, a resident of Virac, Catanduanes. “When the waves hit the seawall, it felt like the ground was shaking.”

Verified videos showed floodwaters reaching halfway up church doors and streets in Bicol’s Albay province turned into torrents.

Climate change intensifies storm patterns

Meteorologists warn that human-driven climate change is contributing to more powerful storms in the Pacific region. Warmer ocean temperatures and increased atmospheric moisture enable typhoons like Fung-wong to intensify rapidly, bringing heavier rainfall and higher storm surges.