Super Typhoon Fung-Wong hits Philippines 1 million evacuated, 2 dead

Super Typhoon Fung-Wong made landfall in the Philippines on Sunday, unleashing torrential rain and destructive winds across northern Luzon, leaving two people dead and forcing the evacuation of nearly one million residents.According to information,the storm, one of the most powerful to hit the country this year, swept across the northern part of Luzon island with sustained winds reaching 185 km/h (115 mph) and gusts up to 230 km/h (140 mph), according to the state weather bureau PAGASA. It was the 21st storm to strike the Philippines this year, coming just weeks after Typhoon Kalmaegi devastated parts of the country and Vietnam, leaving more than 220 people dead.
“We heard on the news that the typhoon is very strong, so we evacuated early,” said Christopher Sanchez, 50, who sought shelter with his family at a basketball court in Isabela province. “We’re scared. We’re here with our grandchildren and our kids,” he added, describing scenes of makeshift tents, elderly people sitting on plastic chairs, and children playing as they waited for the storm to pass.
Authorities stated Luzon and the Eastern Visayas region bore the brunt of the typhoon’s early impact. One person drowned while another was trapped under debris as powerful winds tore through homes and uprooted trees. Officials warned that additional casualties and damage reports were likely as communication lines remain disrupted in several areas.
In Aurora province, where the typhoon first made landfall, widespread power outages were reported though mobile networks remained partially functional, according to information from local disaster management authorities. Several airports, including Sangley near Manila and Bicol International Airport in the south, suspended operations due to high winds and poor visibility.
Pope Leo extended his prayers for the storm-hit nation during a Sunday address, expressing solidarity with the predominantly Catholic population. “I am close to the people of the Philippines affected by a violent typhoon. I pray for the deceased and their families, for the injured and the displaced,” he said.
PAGASA forecast that Fung-Wong will continue moving northward across Luzon before exiting into the Philippine Sea on Monday morning. The typhoon is expected to weaken gradually as it tracks toward the Taiwan Strait by Thursday.