ISABELA (Philippines): Super Typhoon Fung-Wong struck the Philippines on Sunday, leading to the evacuation of around 1 million people and sadly, two reported fatalities. This powerful storm is one of the strongest to hit the nation this year.
The typhoon made landfall over Luzon, the country’s most populated island, bringing heavy rain, sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph), and gusts reaching up to 230 kph (140 mph), according to the weather bureau PAGASA. This is the 21st storm to affect the Philippines in 2023, a country still recovering from the devastation caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi, which resulted in 224 deaths in the Philippines and five in Vietnam.
Christopher Sanchez, 50, shared his experience, stating, “We heard on the news that the typhoon is very strong, so we evacuated early.” He and his family sought shelter on a basketball court in Isabela province. To prepare for the storm, they placed their belongings on the roof. “We’re scared. We’re here with our grandchildren and our kids,” he added, describing the scene filled with tents, elderly individuals on plastic chairs, and children wandering about.
Luzon and Eastern Visayas were significantly impacted by the storm, with officials reporting one drowning and another individual trapped under debris.
While the storm is expected to weaken as it moves further inland, Pope Leo offered prayers for those affected in the largely Catholic nation, saying, “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.”
In Aurora province, where the storm made its entrance, power outages were reported, although phone lines remained functional, according to civil defense official Cheng Quizon speaking to DZBB radio.
Due to the storm, several airports, including Sangley near Manila and Bicol to the south, have suspended operations. PAGASA forecasts that Fung-Wong will continue northward, reaching coastal waters by Monday morning while still classified as a typhoon, before moving out to sea and gradually losing strength as it approaches western Taiwan by Thursday.
