Typhoon Fung-wong, known locally as Uwan, unleashed its fury across the Philippines, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The storm, the 21st to batter the nation this year, claimed at least two lives and forced over a million people from their homes as it swept across Luzon and the Visayas.
Landfall in Dinalungan, Aurora province, brought with it a terrifying combination of torrential flooding, dangerous storm surges, and ferocious winds. Reports confirmed two fatalities in Bicol and Eastern Visayas, with injuries reported in both Western Visayas and Bicol, painting a grim picture of the storm’s immediate impact.
Over 1.198 million individuals were directly affected, a staggering number seeking shelter in evacuation centers. Authorities are diligently working to validate the full extent of the damage and the number of those displaced, a complex task in the aftermath of such a powerful storm.
While Uwan has moved beyond landmass, scattering rains persist in parts of Northern and Central Luzon. Forecasts predict the storm will exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday night or early Tuesday, though a potential return looms as it drifts towards Taiwan.
The typhoon weakened from a super typhoon to a typhoon as it crossed Luzon, but still packed a punch with sustained winds of 130 kph and gusts reaching 160 kph. As of Monday, it was located 135 kilometers west-northwest of Bacnotan, La Union, continuing its westward trajectory.
Travel across the region has been severely disrupted. Over 6,200 passengers and nearly 3,000 vehicles are stranded, alongside 80 vessels and 24 motorboats, awaiting safer conditions. Seventy-two emergency alerts were issued, warning of the cyclone, heavy rainfall, and the threat of storm surges.
Coastal communities braced for potentially devastating storm surges exceeding three meters in areas including Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and even Metro Manila. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals ranged from No. 1 to No. 3 across Luzon, underscoring the widespread threat.
The storm follows closely on the heels of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which earlier this month caused over 200 deaths due to flash floods in the Visayas and Mindanao, compounding the challenges facing the nation. The Philippines is grappling with the aftermath of back-to-back disasters.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has ordered the continued deployment of relief and medical teams to the hardest-hit communities. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been directed to ensure uninterrupted aid delivery and closely monitor conditions in evacuation centers.
The Bicol Region is bearing the brunt of the displacement, with over 100,000 families affected. Significant numbers of families have also been displaced in Camarines Sur and Quezon Province, though authorities anticipate a gradual return home as floodwaters recede.
Recognizing the potential for disease outbreaks, the President has also directed the Department of Health to deploy medical teams to evacuation sites. Simultaneously, the Department of Public Works and Highways is working to repair damaged roads, vital for ensuring access for aid convoys.
Currently, 71 road sections remain impassable, primarily in Central Luzon and the Cordillera region, hindering relief efforts. Pangasinan is among the provinces hardest hit, though floodwaters are beginning to subside, and rescue operations continue.
The President has instructed all government agencies to remain on high alert until Tuesday, continuing both immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation efforts in areas affected by both Uwan and the previous typhoon, Kalmaegi. A comprehensive recovery is underway.
A staggering 4.78 million electricity consumers across six regions in Luzon and the Visayas are without power. Twenty-six electric cooperatives across 18 provinces are working to assess damage and restore service, prioritizing safety in areas affected by floodwaters.
Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) reported a decrease in affected customers, but nearly 200,000 remain without electricity, with a significant portion in flooded areas. Restoration efforts are focused on Cavite, Bulacan, Quezon, and Metro Manila.
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines reported outages on 26 transmission lines in Luzon and 11 in the Visayas, further complicating the power restoration process. The scale of the infrastructure damage is substantial.
The Philippines, frequently in the path of approximately 20 typhoons annually, remains acutely vulnerable to the devastating effects of these storms, including severe flooding and landslides. The nation continues to face the ongoing challenge of building resilience against these recurring natural disasters.
