Super Typhoon Fung-wong hit eastern Philippines on Sunday night, bringing violent winds and heavy rain to Luzon island. The national weather service said the typhoon made landfall at 9:10 p.m. in Aurora province, adding that it was so huge it could blanket nearly the entire archipelago.
Coming just days after more than 220 people died in last week’s Typhoon Kalmaegi, the government wasted no time in preparing for the storm, evacuating more than a million residents in its path.
Early Casualties & Rising Fears
The typhoon has already killed even as hundreds of thousands fled from its path. In the city of Catbalogan, a 64-year-old woman was struck by debris as she was trying to flee her home in the storm. “The wind was very strong, and the rain was coming down in sheets,” said Juniel Tagarino, a rescuer, noting that the victim had gone back to retrieve something before being caught by the storm.
Hours later, officials attributed a second death a man who drowned during a flash flood on Catanduanes Island to the storm. These incidents underlined the dangers even before the typhoon reached full force.
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A Night of Uncertainty in Aurora
Anxiety was palpable in Aurora province, where the storm’s eye made landfall. Residents reinforced their homes with steel and wooden planks, bracing for impact. “What worries us most is that the landfall is happening at night,” said Aries Ora, a local government worker.
“We won’t be able to see what’s happening outside and that makes it more frightening.” Power lines have been reported down in several areas and communication remains intermittent as emergency teams struggle to assess the damage.
What is the Government’s Plea for Safety
Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro called on residents in vulnerable areas to heed orders to evacuate to prevent any last-minute rescues that could put both civilians and first responders in danger.
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“We don’t want to risk the lives of our police, soldiers and coast guard personnel,” he said during a televised briefing. Relief operations are already being organized with shelters filling up across Luzon.
What the national weather bureau said
According to PAGASA, the national weather bureau, Fung-wong will move northwest on Monday, shifting northward by Tuesday while still maintaining typhoon strength. It may head toward the Taiwan Strait midweek, weakening before reaching western Taiwan and eventually dissipating over the Ryukyu Islands.
For the Philippines recovery will take far longer. The country, which has been at the mercy of back-to-back storms that ravaged communities, is being put through yet another test of resiliency in a season that has proved unforgiving.
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Disclaimer: This article provides verified information and analysis on Typhoon Fung-wong’s impact, based on official reports and credible sources.
