Super Typhoon Fung-wong Strikes Philippines, Killing 6 Amid Floods and Landslides

A powerful typhoon has claimed the lives of at least six people in the Philippines, just days after a previous storm devastated the same region. Super Typhoon Fung-wong, locally known as Uwan, battered the northern province of Aurora on Sunday night, triggering widespread flooding, landslides, and power outages.

The typhoon brought sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and gusts up to 230 km/h, forcing authorities to evacuate more than 1.4 million residents ahead of landfall. Fung-wong has since weakened but continues to move northwards toward Taiwan, prompting further evacuations of over 3,000 people.

Flooded Cities and Widespread Damage

Cabanatuan, one of the hardest-hit cities, saw residents frantically trying to salvage furniture and pets as water levels rose. Mercidita Adriano, a local resident, described huddling with her family in a small room as part of their roof was ripped off. The storm destroyed or damaged roughly 4,100 homes across affected areas.

While Fung-wong’s winds were not among the strongest ever recorded in the Philippines, the torrential rain compounded the devastation, hitting communities already struggling to recover from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which struck days earlier, leaving tens of thousands affected.

The Philippines has also endured other recent disasters, including a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu in September, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to natural and climate-related hazards.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned that this succession of calamities is “not routine” and called for urgent international support to prevent further loss of life and aid recovery efforts.

Residents and authorities continue to monitor water levels, with many areas still flooded as rescue and relief operations proceed.