ISABELA – Typhoon Fung-wong battered northern Philippines overnight, claiming at least two lives and leaving several towns isolated as residents assessed the aftermath on Monday morning. More than one million people had been evacuated before the storm made landfall in the eastern town of Dinalungan in Aurora province on Sunday night.
The typhoon, locally called “Uwan,” brought fierce winds, heavy rain, and storm swells across parts of Luzon, damaging houses in Santiago city, Isabela province, and knocking down trees and electric posts. Residents described a sleepless night as winds battered metal roofs and debris fell around their homes.
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Aurora vice-governor Patrick Alexis Angara reported that at least three towns were inaccessible due to landslides and broken roads, with assessment and clearing operations underway. Two other people were reported injured in addition to the fatalities.
The state weather agency said Fung-wong had moved over the South China Sea and is expected to shift northeast towards Taiwan. Heavy rains, strong winds, and storm swells continue to threaten large parts of the Philippines. Over 400 flights were cancelled since Sunday due to the storm.
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Fung-wong is the 21st storm to hit the Philippines this year, following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed 224 people in the country and five in Vietnam last week. Authorities are urging vigilance as recovery and rescue operations continue.