A recent typhoon in the Philippines has resulted in two fatalities and prompted over a million residents to evacuate. Super Typhoon Fong-wong hit various parts of the country, starting with the eastern Bicol region on Sunday morning. This led to the cancellation of Monday classes in schools and the grounding of nearly 300 flights.
The typhoon intensified to a super typhoon, boasting sustained winds of approximately 115mph and gusts reaching 143mph. The Philippine weather service, PAGASA, issued a warning about the potential for a life-threatening storm surge exceeding 3m [10ft].
Locally known as ‘Uwan’, the storm is expected to make landfall in the central or northern part of Aurora. Areas under a “red” warning level include Rizal, Metro Manila, Laguna, Bulacan, and Quezon among others. After hitting land, the typhoon will move across the mountainous region of Northern Luzon and emerge over Lingayen Gulf or coastal waters of Pangasinan or La Union by the following morning.
The typhoon will then veer northward through Tuesday while retaining its typhoon status. Subsequently, it is projected to turn northeast towards the Taiwan Strait, losing strength in the process. The current forecast indicates a landfall over western Taiwan on Thursday.