Philippines evacuates 100,000 people as new storm intensifies into super typhoon

Isabela: The Philippines evacuated over 100,000 residents across its eastern and northern regions as Typhoon Fung-wong intensified on Sunday into a super typhoon ahead of its expected arrival later in the day, threatening to unleash torrential rains, destructive winds, and storm surges.

Storm alerts have been issued across large parts of the Philippines, with a level 5 warning of an extreme threat to life and property raised in parts of south-eastern Luzon, and the Metro Manila capital region and surrounding areas placed under level 3.

The Philippines is already clearing up the devastation of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which hit Cebu province last week. Credit: AP

With sustained winds of 185km/h and gusts of up to 230km/h, Super Typhoon Fung-wong, known locally as Uwan, is forecast to make landfall in Aurora province in central Luzon on Sunday night at the earliest.

Parts of Eastern Visayas region were already experiencing power outages.

Images shared by the Philippine Coast Guard from Camarines Sur province showed evacuees carrying bags and personal belongings as they transferred from long, narrow passenger boats to waiting trucks during pre-emptive evacuation operations.

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Some parts of Manila have suspended classes on Monday, while several shopping malls are offering free overnight parking, charging stations, and Wi-Fi for people affected by the typhoon, the 21st to hit the Philippines this year.

“We are strongly advising residents to participate in pre-emptive evacuations,” Marc Rembrandt Victore, from the Office of Civil Defence, told DZMM radio station.

Residents in the coastal and mountainous communities of Aurora province, which, on the current trajectory, is in the storm’s path, were advised to evacuate, Elson Egargue, provincial disaster agency chief, told DZMM.

Neighbouring Quirino province also urged people to find shelter elsewhere, with the province’s head of disaster operations, Jesusa Leal, warning: “This is a really strong storm that we are expecting.”

Hundreds of flights cancelled

More than 300 domestic and international flights have been cancelled, according to the civil aviation regulator.

A video shared by ABS-CBN News on X showed stormy conditions in Catanduanes province, with an overcast sky, tree branches swaying violently in the wind, and strong rain visibly falling and pounding the area, its intensity audible.

Fung-wong approached the Philippines just days after the country was battered by Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed 204 people and left a trail of destruction before slamming into Vietnam, where it claimed five more lives and devastated coastal communities.

In the fishing village of Vung Cheo in central Vietnam, fishing vessels were seen piled up in wrecks along the main road on Saturday, where hundreds of lobster farms had been washed away or damaged.

Debris lies in a street in Gai Lai, Vietnam, in the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi.Credit: AP

Fifty-two houses collapsed and nearly 2600 others were damaged or had their roofs blown off, including more than 2400 in Gai Lai alone. The storm also caused multiple power grid failures and knocked down hundreds of power poles, cutting electricity to more than 1.6 million households.

Authorities reported on Saturday that power had been restored to most areas, but approximately 500,000 households remained without electricity.

Factories lost their roofs, and equipment was damaged due to flooding in Binh Dinh province.

AP, Reuters

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