By Euronews
Published on
Typhoon Fung-wong killed at least four people and forced evacuation of over 1.4 million residents before making landfall as a super typhoon in Aurora province Sunday night, exposing more than 30 million people to hazards, the Office of Civil Defence said.
One person drowned in flash floods in Catanduanes province, whilst another died in Catbalogan City when her house collapsed. Two landslides in Nueva Vizcaya province towns Kayapa and Kasibu killed three children and injured four others, police said.
The 1,800-kilometre-wide typhoon weakened as it crossed mountainous northern provinces and agricultural plains overnight before moving into the South China Sea from La Union province, state forecasters said.
Fung-wong sustained winds of up to 185 kph with gusts reaching 230 kph when it struck the eastern town of Dinalungan. The storm arrived days after Typhoon Kalmaegi killed 224 people in the country.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a state of emergency Thursday due to extensive Kalmaegi devastation and expected Fung-wong damage. The typhoon is called Uwan in the Philippines.
Authorities closed schools and most government offices Monday and Tuesday after fierce winds and rain triggered flooding in at least 132 northern villages, including one where residents were trapped on roofs as floodwaters rapidly rose.
More than 325 domestic and 61 international flights were cancelled over the weekend. Around 6,600 commuters and cargo workers were stranded in ports after the coast guard prohibited ships from venturing into rough seas.
The Philippines categorises tropical cyclones with sustained winds of 185 kph or higher as super typhoons.
The Asian island country experiences about 20 typhoons and storms annually and has more than a dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.
Manila has not requested international assistance following the Kalmaegi devastation, though the US and Japan are ready to assist, officials said.
Additional sources • AP