MANILA: The Philippines is bracing for Typhoon Fung-wong, locally named Uwan, as it churns toward the eastern coast, bringing life-threatening storm surges and destructive winds. The weather bureau PAGASA has warned that the typhoon could intensify into a super typhoon before making landfall on Sunday night.
Currently packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph and gusts of up to 170 kph, Fung-wong’s winds could strengthen to 185 kph, strong enough to destroy homes, topple trees, and damage infrastructure. The storm’s circulation spans 1,500 kilometers, with heavy rainfall already affecting parts of eastern Philippines.
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PAGASA forecasts up to 200 mm of rainfall in eastern provinces such as Bicol and parts of Samar, raising the risk of floods and landslides. Northern and central Luzon may see 100-200 mm of rain. Authorities have urged residents in low-lying and coastal areas to evacuate and suspend all marine activities.
Ahead of the typhoon, several local governments have canceled classes, and the national airline has suspended flights. The warning follows closely after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed over 200 people in the Philippines and Vietnam, displaced hundreds of thousands, and caused widespread infrastructure damage.
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Scientists have cautioned that tropical storms in the region are intensifying due to rising global temperatures, underscoring the increasing vulnerability of nations along the Pacific typhoon belt.