Mass Evacuation Underway as Powerful Super Typhoon Targets the Philippines
The Southeast Asian nation of the Philippines is bracing itself for the arrival of Super Typhoon Fung-wong, the most severe storm to pose a threat to the country this year. The storm is already causing havoc along the northeastern coast, with power outages aplenty and almost a million people being forced to evacuate their homes. Warnings have been issued to people living in high-risk areas to seek safety before the situation worsens.
Devastation Looming
Fung-wong, with its enormous rain and wind band stretching over 994 miles, is capable of affecting two-thirds of the archipelago. It's approaching from the Pacific Ocean, just as the Philippines is grappling with the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which took the lives of at least 224 people in central island provinces before wreaking havoc in Vietnam, resulting in at least five deaths.
The nation's president has declared a state of emergency because of the extensive damage caused by Kalmaegi and the anticipated destruction from Fung-wong. Local terminology has named the incoming typhoon as Uwan.
Storm Characteristics
With wind speeds reaching up to 115 mph and gusts increasing to 143 mph, Fung-wong was detected by state forecasters on Sunday. It was seen over coastal waters near the town of Pandan in the eastern Catanduanes province, where heavy rains and fog have reduced visibility. The typhoon is expected to continue its path northwestward and make landfall on the coast of Aurora or Isabela province.
Super Typhoon Alert
In the Philippines, tropical cyclones with sustained winds of 115 mph or more are classified as a super typhoon. This classification was introduced years ago to emphasize the urgency related to these severe weather disturbances.
Evacuations and Warnings
Over 916,860 individuals have been evacuated from high-risk villages in northeastern provinces, including Bicol, a coastal area that is susceptible to Pacific cyclones and mudflows from Mayon, one of the country's most active volcanoes.
The country's Defense Secretary, who is responsible for the country's disaster response agencies and the military, gave a televised warning about the potentially disastrous impact of Fung-wong. He stated that the storm could affect a large portion of the country, including Cebu, the central province that was most severely affected by Typhoon Kalmaegi, and metropolitan Manila, the country's densely populated capital region and financial hub.
The Office of Civil Defense reported that more than 30 million people could face the dangers posed by Fung-wong. The Defense Secretary urged residents to heed officials' orders to evacuate areas prone to flash floods, landslides, and coastal tidal surges. He emphasized the importance of evacuating early because rescuing people becomes much more difficult once flooding has started.
While international help has not been sought after the devastation caused by Kalmaegi, the Defense Secretary did mention that both the United States and Japan were ready to provide assistance if needed.
Preemptive Measures
As Fung-wong nears, several eastern towns and villages have already lost power. In anticipation of the typhoon, northern provinces have declared a shutdown of schools and most government offices for Monday and Tuesday. A total of 325 domestic and 61 international flights have been cancelled, and over 6,600 commuters and cargo workers have been left stranded in at least 109 seaports, where the coast guard has prohibited ships from sailing into the rough seas.
Authorities are warning of a "high risk of life-threatening and damaging storm surge" of nearly 10 feet along the coasts of more than 20 provinces and regions, including metropolitan Manila.
Philippines: A Disaster-Prone Country
The Philippines endures approximately 20 typhoons and storms each year. The country is also frequently hit by earthquakes and has more than a dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the world's most disaster-prone countries.