Typhoon Fung-wong Weakens and Exits Philippines After Displacing 1.4 Million People

The storm, which made landfall over northern Luzon earlier this week, gradually weakened into a tropical storm as it moved westward toward the South China Sea. Despite losing strength, Fung-wong left behind a trail of destruction — damaging infrastructure, crops, and homes in low-lying communities.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), thousands of families remain in temporary evacuation shelters, while power outages and disrupted water supplies continue to affect several northern and central Luzon areas.

“The immediate priority is to restore essential services and provide assistance to displaced families,” said an NDRRMC spokesperson. “Teams are conducting assessments and distributing food, water, and relief supplies to affected communities.”

Widespread Impact Across Luzon

The provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, and Pangasinan bore the brunt of the storm’s impact, with reports of flash floods, landslides, and significant agricultural losses. Major highways and bridges were temporarily closed due to debris and rising floodwaters, though clearing operations are now underway.

In Metro Manila, heavy rainfall triggered localized flooding but no major casualties were reported, thanks to early evacuation measures and continuous weather monitoring.

Weakened but Still Dangerous

As Fung-wong moved out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), PAGASA reported sustained winds of up to 85 km/h near the center, with gusts reaching up to 110 km/h. The storm is expected to continue weakening as it travels across the South China Sea toward southern China and Vietnam.

Government Response and Recovery Efforts

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed national and local agencies to coordinate relief operations and ensure that evacuation centers have adequate food, medicine, and sanitation facilities. The government also pledged financial support for farmers whose crops were destroyed by the storm.

International aid agencies have expressed readiness to assist in recovery efforts, emphasizing the growing need for climate resilience and improved disaster response systems in the region.

Background: Increasing Storm Intensity in the Pacific

The Philippines faces around 20 tropical cyclones annually, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. Experts say that changing climate patterns have intensified storms in recent years, increasing their frequency and destructive potential.

Meteorologists have urged continued vigilance, warning that residual rains from Fung-wong could still trigger landslides and flash floods in mountainous regions.

As skies begin to clear, millions of Filipinos now turn to rebuilding their homes and livelihoods — yet another test of resilience in a nation accustomed to confronting nature’s fiercest storms.