The Philippines is bracing for another potentially devastating typhoon, just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi claimed over 200 lives and left widespread destruction in its wake.
The new typhoon, named Fung-wong or locally known as Uwan, is expected to make landfall on the island of Luzon as a super typhoon on Sunday night (local time on November 9th). It is forecasted to strengthen with sustained winds reaching at least 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour), enough to destroy houses, topple trees, and buildings.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has warned that the storm could bring life-threatening storm surges of up to 5 meters (16 feet), accompanied by heavy rainfall and destructive winds.
Due to the vast reach of the typhoon’s circulation, covering almost the entire Philippines, Pagasa urges residents in low-lying and coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground before the storm hits. The civil defense spokesperson stated that evacuation efforts must be completed by Sunday morning at the latest.
Areas like Bicol, Samar, and the northern and central parts of Luzon are expected to receive heavy rainfall ranging from 100 to 200 millimeters, which may trigger widespread flooding and landslides.
Several schools have already canceled classes for Monday or switched to online learning, while Philippine Airlines has also canceled multiple domestic flights.
As the new typhoon approaches, the Philippines has not yet recovered from the impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi. The typhoon a week ago resulted in at least 204 fatalities and over 100 people missing.
To address Typhoon Fung-wong, rescue operations for Typhoon Kalmaegi had to be temporarily halted. The government has declared a nationwide state of calamity, granting authorities greater powers to access emergency funds and expedite the supply of relief goods.
Residents are evacuating in fear, with one resident taking shelter in a church in Sorsogon telling Agence France-Presse, “We decided to evacuate because the recent typhoon brought flooding, and now I just want to keep my family safe.”
Scientists warn that due to the impact of global extreme weather, future typhoons could become even more intense, with higher wind speeds and heavier rainfall.
Following Typhoon Kalmaegi, disaster agencies in Vietnam reported around 2,800 houses damaged, at least 5 deaths, and approximately 500,000 people still without power.
（This article references reports from BBC and Reuters）