Thousands Evacuated as Tropical Storm Fung-wong Approaches Taiwan

On November 11, 2025, Taiwan is preparing for the arrival of tropical storm Fung-wong, which has already caused significant damage in the Philippines. The storm, which was previously classified as a typhoon, is expected to make landfall in Taiwan on Wednesday afternoon or evening near the southwestern port city of Kaohsiung.

In anticipation of the storm, Taiwan has evacuated more than 3,300 people from four counties and cities near the eastern township of Guangfu, where a previous typhoon in September caused a barrier lake to overflow, resulting in 18 fatalities. Schools and offices have also been closed in Hualien and Yilan counties, and weather authorities have issued a land warning covering the southern and southwestern areas of the country.

Fung-wong first made landfall in the Philippines on Sunday, slamming the northeastern coast as a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph) and gusts of up to 230 kph (143 mph). The storm has already claimed at least 18 lives in the Philippines due to flash floods and landslides, and has displaced more than 1.4 million people, with around 803,000 seeking shelter in evacuation centers across the northern Luzon region.

As Taiwan braces for the impact of Fung-wong, the country's weather agency has reported that the storm currently has maximum sustained winds of up to 108 kph (67 mph) and gusts of 137 kph (85 mph). The storm is expected to sweep across the island and exit from its northeastern side on Wednesday evening or early Thursday.