Key points: More than one million people have been evacuated across the Philippines as Super Typhoon Fung-wong approaches, with landfall expected in Aurora province between 8:00 pm and 11:00 pm local time. At least two deaths have been reported, and officials said nearly 1.2 million people were preemptively moved from vulnerable areas. Schools and government offices on Luzon were closed, about 300 flights were cancelled, and heavy rainfall of 200 mm or more is possible. Authorities warned of dangerous storm surges and urged residents to follow evacuation orders.
Over 1 Million Evacuated as Super Typhoon Fung-wong Approaches Philippines; At Least Two Dead
Key points: More than one million people have been evacuated across the Philippines as Super Typhoon Fung-wong approaches, with landfall expected in Aurora province between 8:00 pm and 11:00 pm local time. At least two deaths have been reported, and officials said nearly 1.2 million people were preemptively moved from vulnerable areas. Schools and government offices on Luzon were closed, about 300 flights were cancelled, and heavy rainfall of 200 mm or more is possible. Authorities warned of dangerous storm surges and urged residents to follow evacuation orders.
01:59, 10.11.2025Environment
More than 1 million evacuated as Super Typhoon Fung-wong nears Philippines
Authorities in the Philippines have moved over one million people to safety and confirmed at least two fatalities as floodwaters rose ahead of Super Typhoon Fung-wong, which is expected to make landfall on the east coast late Sunday evening.
State weather forecaster Charmagne Varilla told AFP that the storm is forecast to strike Aurora province between 8:00 pm and 11:00 pm local time (1200–1500 GMT). With a circulation spanning much of the archipelago, Fung-wong is expected to bring damaging winds, heavy rain and dangerous storm surges to large areas of the country.
The storm follows only days after Typhoon Kalmaegi ravaged parts of the Philippines, killing more than 220 people, according to government figures.
Confirmed fatalities and evacuations
On Sunday, rescue workers in Catbalogan City recovered the body of a 64-year-old woman who had been trying to evacuate; she was found beneath debris and fallen trees, rescuer Juniel Tagarino said. A second fatality was later confirmed — a person who drowned in a flash flood on Catanduanes island, officials said.
Officials later reported that nearly 1.2 million people had been preemptively evacuated nationwide from vulnerable areas. Schools and government offices on the main island of Luzon — including in the capital Manila — were ordered closed, and nearly 300 flights to and from Manila were cancelled.
Impact on the ground
Catanduanes was already experiencing strong winds and heavy rains, with storm surges sweeping waves over streets. "The waves started roaring around 7:00 am. When the waves hit the seawall, it felt like the ground was shaking," said resident Edson Casarino in Virac town. AFP-verified video showed a church in Virac surrounded by floodwater reaching halfway up the entrance.
In Guinobatan, Albay province, verified footage showed streets turned into powerful torrents. Government meteorologists warn Fung-wong could dump at least 200 millimetres (about eight inches) of rain in many areas, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides.
Preparations and warnings
Residents rushed to secure homes: in Catanduanes, people tied down roofs with heavy ropes and added weights to reduce the chance of roofs being ripped off by gale-force winds. In Dipaculao town, Aurora province, government worker Aries Ora boarded up his home with steel sheets and wooden planks, expressing concern that an expected nighttime landfall would make conditions especially hazardous.
Authorities urged affected communities to heed evacuation orders and shelter in designated centers. Search-and-rescue operations in areas hit previously by Kalmaegi, including Cebu, were scaled back or suspended because of the approaching super typhoon.
Climate context
Scientists note that human-driven climate change is making storms stronger and wetter: warmer oceans can fuel rapid intensification, while a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture and produces heavier rainfall, compounding flood risk in vulnerable regions.
Sources: Philippine civil defence and meteorological agencies; AFP reporting.