TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — In anticipation of an approaching storm, Taiwan has relocated over 3,000 residents from high-risk zones and has shut down schools and offices on Tuesday. The storm, which previously wreaked havoc in the Philippines causing 25 fatalities and displacing upwards of 1.4 million people, is set to make landfall.
Initially categorized as a typhoon, Fung-wong has diminished in strength as it nears Taiwan. It is forecasted to reach the southwestern coastal city of Kaohsiung by Wednesday afternoon or evening.
As of Tuesday morning, the storm boasted maximum sustained winds of 108 kph (67 mph) with gusts reaching up to 137 kph (85 mph). It is expected to traverse the island before exiting from the northeastern fringe either on Wednesday night or early Thursday, according to Taiwan’s meteorological department.
Evacuations have taken place in four counties and cities, particularly near the eastern township of Guangfu, which experienced significant flooding and casualties due to a typhoon this past September.
On Tuesday, educational institutions and workplaces in Hualien and Yilan counties remained closed. Meanwhile, weather authorities have issued warnings for the southern and southwestern regions, including Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Tainan, and Taitung.
China has also prepared for the typhoon by activating an emergency response in its southeastern provinces, including Fujian, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Hainan.
Before hitting Taiwan, Fung-wong struck the northeastern coast of the Philippines as a super typhoon, with winds reaching 185 kph (115 mph) and gusts up to 230 kph (143 mph). The storm, which spanned 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles), led to at least 18 deaths from flash floods and landslides across several northern provinces.
As of Tuesday, over a million people remained displaced, with about 803,000 taking refuge in approximately 11,000 evacuation centers throughout the northern Luzon area, as reported by Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy director of the Office of Civil Defense.
Casualties included 19 individuals, primarily from landslides in the Cordillera region—a mountainous area encompassing six provinces known for its susceptibility to land- and mudslides, particularly during the rainy season beginning in June. Additionally, two individuals are reported missing in the area according to Alejandro and local officials.
Other fatalities were caused by flash floods, exposed electrical wires, and a collapsed house. In total, the storm injured 29 people. Among the deceased were three children who were victims of landslides that buried their homes in Nueva Vizcaya. This incident also injured four other individuals, while another landslide in nearby Kalinga province claimed two lives, officials noted.
Alejandro highlighted that the deaths occurred in various separate incidents, rather than a single mass casualty event.
Both the Philippines and Taiwan are frequently hit by numerous typhoons and storms each year and lie in a region that is also prone to earthquakes.
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Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines
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Morgan Ellis is an investigative journalist passionate about environmental policy and corporate accountability. With a background in climate science and years of reporting for nonprofit media, Morgan brings depth, clarity, and purpose to every story.
