At least two people have been confirmed dead as Super Typhoon Fung-wong — locally named “Uwan” — continued to batter central and eastern Philippines on Sunday, unleashing destructive winds and torrential rain while rapidly approaching landfall in northern Luzon.
Authorities say more than one million residents have already fled from high-risk coastal and low-lying communities, as the storm, with sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and gusts up to 230 km/h (140 mph), knocked out electricity across large swathes of the Bicol region and forced the closure of several airports, including Bicol International Airport and Sangley Point in Cavite.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed a drowning in Catanduanes and reported another fatality in Catbalogan City, where firefighters found a woman killed in a house collapse. More casualties are feared as emergency crews continue to struggle to reach remote areas due to blocked roads and zero visibility in some towns.
More provinces across Luzon — the country’s most populous island — are now under the highest threat warning signal levels. Metro Manila remains under Signal No. 3 as residents brace for worsening conditions. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro reiterated that refusing mandatory evacuation is both dangerous and illegal, saying the military has redirected 2,000 troops to assist in disaster response.
Local officials say the storm’s impact comes while the Philippines is still reeling from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed 224 people nationwide last month — raising concerns that back-to-back severe weather events will stretch relief and recovery capacities even further.
Fung-wong, the 21st tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines this year, is forecast by the state weather bureau PAGASA to curve northwest Monday and then northward Tuesday, maintaining typhoon strength as it tracks toward the Taiwan Strait. It may weaken before an expected landfall in western Taiwan by Thursday, before further diminishing near Japan’s Ryukyu Islands.
In northern Luzon’s Isabela province, dozens of families crammed into makeshift shelters like basketball courts. “We’re scared,” said 50-year-old evacuee Christopher Sanchez, who has fled previous storms due to life-threatening flooding near his riverside home. “We brought our whole family because every time, the water rises higher than us.”
Regional governors have warned that catastrophic flooding and landslides remain a major concern, particularly overnight, when Fung-wong is expected to make its closest passage to Luzon’s northern coastline.
Source:Africa Publicity
