A few days after the Philippines was ravaged by storm Kalmaegi, which caused more than two hundred fatalities, another powerful typhoon hits the archipelago. This is Typhoon Fung-wong, which is approaching the Philippines from the west and will reach land on Sunday evening local time. Evacuation numbers vary: the Reuters news agency speaks of at least a hundred thousand evacuees, while the AP news agency estimates almost a million people. The latter speaks of “the heaviest storm that will hit the Philippines this year.”
The so-called super typhoon has wind speeds of 185 kilometers per hour. Philippine authorities expect high waves, heavy rain, strong winds and flooding. The meteorological institute Pagasa speaks of “life-threatening conditions”. Storm Kalmaegi prompted Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declares a national emergency. That remains in place.
Power has gone out in some places in the east of the country, writes The Guardian. More than three hundred flights have been canceled and schools are closed. There have been no fatalities yet.
Storm Kalmaegi caused casualties mainly in the province of Cebu, an island surrounded by other islands. The Philippines has already been hit by twenty tropical storms of varying strength this year.
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Kalmaegi sweeps across the Philippines
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