Super Typhoon Fung-wong Slams Philippines, Prompting Widespread Evacuations

On November 9, 2025, the Philippines is bracing for the impact of Super Typhoon Fung-wong, the biggest storm to hit the country this year. The typhoon, with winds up to 115 mph and gusts reaching 143 mph, has already started battering the northeastern coast and is expected to make landfall on the coast of Aurora or Isabela province later on November 9 or early November 10.

The Philippines is still recovering from the devastation caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi, which struck central island provinces on November 7, leaving at least 204 people dead before pummeling Vietnam, where at least five were killed. In response to the back-to-back typhoons, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of emergency.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has warned that Fung-wong, which could cover two-thirds of the Southeast Asian archipelago, could have a catastrophic impact, affecting a vast expanse of the country, including the central province of Cebu and the densely populated capital region of metropolitan Manila. Teodoro has urged people to immediately evacuate high-risk villages and towns before it's too late, as rescue efforts become difficult once the flooding and landslides start.

As Fung-wong approaches, several eastern towns and villages have already lost power, and about 50,000 families have been evacuated from high-risk areas in the northeastern Bicol region. Authorities in northern provinces have also preemptively declared the shutdown of schools and most government offices on November 10.