Super Typhoon Fung-wong Slams Philippines, Leaving Two Dead and Over a Million Evacuated

Super Typhoon Fung-wong, locally known as Uwan, made a devastating landfall in the Philippines on November 9, 2025, triggering widespread destruction across Luzon. The powerful storm resulted in at least two confirmed fatalities and prompted the pre-emptive evacuation of nearly 1.4 million people from high-risk areas, according to reports from The Hindu and the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on November 10.

The typhoon struck Dinalungan, Aurora, in northern Luzon around 9:10 PM local time, packing fierce winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and gusts reaching 230 km/h (143 mph) at landfall, as detailed by The Watchers on November 9. This Category 4-equivalent typhoon brought torrential rains and significant storm surges, causing extensive damage to homes and isolating numerous towns.

Initial casualty reports confirmed one person drowned in Catanduanes and another was killed by a collapsed structure in Catbalogan City, Samar, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on November 9. Office of Civil Defense Director Raffy Alejandro stated these deaths are undergoing validation, with two injuries also reported in Bicol and Western Visayas.

The widespread impact included massive power outages affecting approximately 184,000 customers across Luzon and Eastern Visayas, Africa Publicity reported on November 9. Flooding was severe in parts of Bicol, while Catanduanes experienced dangerous storm surges, and Albay saw lahar flows, further exacerbating the crisis.

This latest calamity follows closely on the heels of Typhoon Kalmaegi (Tino), which devastated the country just a week prior, causing 224 fatalities and leaving 127 people missing, as noted by The Guardian on November 9. The back-to-back storms have severely strained the nation's disaster response capabilities and resources.

In anticipation of Fung-wong's arrival, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national state of calamity on November 6, encompassing the entire country. This declaration, reported by abs-cbn News on November 9, aimed to expedite relief efforts for Kalmaegi victims and enable crucial pre-emptive measures for the approaching Super Typhoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had issued extensive warnings, including Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 for the hardest-hit areas. The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines also issued an alert on November 7, urging citizens to prepare for life-threatening conditions and follow evacuation orders.

• Historical Context of Typhoons in the Philippines: The Philippines is one of the world's most typhoon-prone countries, experiencing an average of 18 to 20 tropical cyclones annually, according to worlddata.info. While the peak season typically runs from June to September, severe storms can occur year-round. Notable past events include Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in November 2013, which claimed over 6,300 lives, and Super Typhoon Goni (Rolly) in November 2020, recorded as the strongest typhoon to make landfall globally.

• Role of Government Agencies in Disaster Response: Key agencies like the NDRRMC and PAGASA play critical roles in disaster preparedness and response. PAGASA provides crucial weather forecasts and issues wind signals, while the NDRRMC coordinates national relief efforts, including evacuations and damage assessments. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local officials to conduct preemptive evacuations, and the Philippine National Police activated disaster response teams, as reported by The Watchers on November 9.

• Economic and Social Implications: The successive typhoons, Kalmaegi and Fung-wong, are expected to have significant economic and social repercussions. Damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods will be substantial, particularly in regions still recovering from previous disasters. The World Bank estimates that intense storms cause an average of US$3.5 million in damage to the Philippines annually, highlighting the chronic economic strain.

• Climate Change and Typhoon Intensity: A study by World Weather Attribution in December 2024 indicated that climate change "supercharged" recent typhoon seasons in the Philippines, making conditions for powerful storms nearly twice as likely. The study found that the likelihood of at least three Category 3-5 typhoons hitting the country in a single year has increased by 25% due to human-induced warming, as reported by greenpeace Philippines. Warmer oceans contribute to rapid intensification, and a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall.

• Challenges of Back-to-Back Events: The rapid succession of Typhoon Kalmaegi and Super Typhoon Fung-wong underscores the growing challenge of "back-to-back" extreme weather events. This clustering of storms creates a constant state of insecurity, worsening the region's vulnerability and exposure, according to the World Weather Attribution. ReliefWeb noted on November 7 that the impacts of Kalmaegi, which affected 2.4 million people, were compounded by the arrival of Fung-wong, stretching resources thin.

• Preparedness and International Support: The World Food Programme (WFP) reported on November 8 that anticipatory actions, including cash assistance to 31,000 households in northern Luzon, were activated in partnership with the government. This proactive approach, alongside early compliance with evacuation orders, may have contributed to the relatively lower casualty count for Fung-wong compared to Kalmaegi, as suggested by Philstar.com on November 10.

• Future Outlook and Resilience Building: As Fung-wong moves away from Luzon, weakening as it tracks towards the Taiwan Strait, the focus shifts to rehabilitation and long-term resilience. The Office of Civil Defense stated on November 10 that rescue, relief, and disaster-response operations would continue, with efforts to clear blocked roads. Building climate-resilient infrastructure and strengthening early warning systems remain critical for the Philippines in mitigating the increasing threats posed by intensifying typhoons.