At least 18 individuals lost their lives in the Philippines following the impact of a typhoon on Monday, leading to over one million people being forced out of their residences.
The powerful Typhoon Fung-wong, known locally as ‘Uwan’, made landfall on the island on Sunday night before progressing across the South China Sea towards Taiwan, where it is anticipated to hit the land on Thursday, as reported by the Associated Press.
The devastating effects of Fung-wong resulted in the displacement of more than 1.4 million individuals in the northern regions of the country, causing widespread floods, power failures, and landslides.
The Philippine weather agency, PAGASA, disclosed in a statement released at 11 am local time on Tuesday that the typhoon carried sustained winds of 110 km/h near its core with gusts reaching up to 135 km/h.
PAGASA also warned of heightened precipitation in mountainous areas on Tuesday. The country, known for its vulnerability to natural disasters, is still recovering from the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which claimed over 200 lives last week.
In response to the looming threat, authorities took precautionary measures by shutting down schools and most government offices on Monday and Tuesday. Additionally, more than 325 domestic and 61 international flights were canceled, with over 6,600 passengers and cargo workers stranded in ports due to coast guard restrictions on maritime activities.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr of the Philippines declared a state of emergency on Thursday following the severe destruction caused by Kalmaegi and the anticipated impacts of Fung-wong, also referred to as Uwan within the country.
