The Philippines is bracing for the impact of Super Typhoon Fung-wong, the most severe storm to threaten the archipelago this year. As the typhoon approached the northeastern coast on Sunday, it brought powerful winds and heavy rain, knocking out power and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. issued urgent warnings, urging millions in high-risk areas to evacuate before it’s too late. Fung-wong, with a massive rain and wind band spanning 1,600 kilometers (994 miles), is expected to affect two-thirds of the country, compounding the devastation left by Typhoon Kalmaegi, which recently claimed over 200 lives in the central provinces before moving on to Vietnam. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of emergency in response to the dual crises. Fung-wong, packing sustained winds of up to 185 kph (115 mph) and gusts reaching 230 kph (143 mph), is forecast to make landfall in Aurora or Isabela province by late Sunday or early Monday. The storm’s approach has already caused widespread disruptions, including school and government office closures, flight cancellations, and the stranding of thousands at seaports. The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations, faces an average of 20 typhoons annually, alongside frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Super typhoon threatens the Philippines, still reeling from recent storm that killed more than 200
