Super Typhoon Fung-wong Leaves Trail of Destruction in the Philippines, Kills 10

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A powerful super typhoon, Fung-wong, tore through the northern Philippines over the weekend, leaving a trail of devastation and claiming at least 10 lives. The storm, which made landfall on Sunday night in Aurora province, brought sustained winds of up to 185 kph (115 mph) and gusts of up to 230 kph (143 mph). As the storm moved across the country, it triggered flash floods, landslides, and power outages, affecting entire provinces. The disaster-response officials reported that the provinces of Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province, and Ifugao were the hardest hit. The storm's impact was exacerbated by the fact that the Philippines was still recovering from the effects of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which struck last week and left at least 232 people dead. According to state forecasters, Fung-wong weakened as it moved through the mountainous northern provinces and agricultural plains before blowing away into the South China Sea. The storm displaced more than 1.4 million people, with many taking shelter in emergency centers or the homes of relatives. At least 132 villages were flooded, and over 4,100 houses were damaged. The Office of Civil Defense and other officials are conducting rescue, relief, and disaster-response operations in the affected areas. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the extensive devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong. The Philippines has not sought international help, but the US and Japan are ready to provide assistance. The country is no stranger to natural disasters, having been hit by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. With frequent earthquakes and over a dozen active volcanoes, the Philippines is one of the world's most disaster-prone countries.