Monday | 10th November 2025
A second powerful typhoon in just one week has battered the Philippines, killing at least two people and forcing nearly a million residents to flee from their homes amid fears of catastrophic winds and storm surges.
Typhoon Fung-wong, known locally as Uwan, made landfall on Sunday night over the coastal municipality of Dinalungan in Aurora province, northeast of Manila, according to the national weather bureau, PAGASA. The storm followed closely on the heels of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which devastated the central Philippines earlier in the week, leaving nearly 200 people dead and wreaking havoc in Vietnam as well.
Early reports from civil defense authorities confirmed that one person drowned in Catanduanes province, while another victim, a woman, was found trapped under the rubble of a collapsed house in Catbalogan City, Samar province.
In anticipation of the storm, officials ordered the evacuation of more than 920,000 residents from 11 regions across the country, moving them to temporary shelters such as gymnasiums, schools, and government facilities. “People are a little shellshocked,” said Butch Meily, president of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), speaking to CNN. “This marks the country’s fourth major typhoon in just seven weeks, on top of two significant earthquakes. We’re getting ready, but this is starting to test our level of experience.”
Super Typhoon Strength and Scope
PAGASA has upgraded Fung-wong to a super typhoon on the Philippine scale, citing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph) and gusts reaching 230 kph (143 mph). Its enormous wind circulation spans approximately 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) — wide enough to cover the entire archipelago — and even surpasses the size of Kalmaegi.
“This one is much stronger,” PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said. “But the casualties and damage will depend on how well the government has prepared. We’ve learned from Kalmaegi and adjusted our response accordingly.”
The storm’s path threatens Luzon, the country’s most populous island and home to the capital Manila, as well as Visayas and Siargao, the nation’s surfing capital. Landslides and severe flooding are expected along Luzon’s eastern coast, with more than 200 millimeters of rainfall forecast in 24 hours. Manila, too, is bracing for intense rainfall and high flood risk, while over 300 domestic and international flights have already been canceled, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
A Nation on Red Alert
The entire country is now on red alert, according to Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who said that many families are sheltering in public buildings while others are being forcibly evacuated from high-risk areas. The government is distributing food packs, clean water, and essential supplies to evacuees.
Meanwhile, recovery efforts in Cebu and Davao—areas devastated by Kalmaegi—have been temporarily suspended so that resources can be redirected toward Fung-wong’s emergency response. “We’ve opened a 24-hour operations center near Manila,” Meily said. “But our funds are starting to get exhausted because of the number of emergencies.”
Aftermath of Kalmaegi
Just days earlier, Typhoon Kalmaegi tore through the central Philippines, killing at least 188 people, most in Cebu province, a major tourist destination. The storm, though not the strongest, was slow-moving, unleashing torrential rain that flooded entire neighborhoods and caused widespread destruction. Officials said the majority of deaths were due to drowning.
Kalmaegi’s devastation was compounded by clogged waterways, poor drainage, and insufficient public awareness of early warnings. The disaster struck amid a massive corruption scandal involving flood control projects, sparking nationwide protests. Dozens of politicians and contractors have been accused of embezzling funds meant for flood defenses, further fueling public anger.
Climate Change and the Future of Typhoons
Scientists say the human-caused climate crisis is intensifying storms like Fung-wong and Kalmaegi, with the Philippines among the nations most vulnerable to their effects. Rising ocean temperatures—driven by global warming—fuel stronger typhoons, while warmer air holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall.
“The weather patterns here are changing,” Meily said. “We used to focus only on where the storm would make landfall. But now, the rain bands are so wide that areas far from the storm’s path are still experiencing serious flooding.”
The western Pacific is the world’s most active tropical cyclone basin, and global sea surface temperatures have been record-high for eight consecutive years. Experts warn that unless global emissions are drastically reduced, countries like the Philippines will continue to face stronger, wetter, and more frequent storms, stretching their resources and resilience to the limit.
Despite years of experience with natural disasters, the Philippines now finds itself in an escalating battle not only against the forces of nature, but also against systemic challenges—from corruption and infrastructure failures to the mounting pressures of climate change. As Fung-wong sweeps across the nation, the question is not just how much damage it will cause, but how much more the country can endure.