Typhoon Fung-wong Weakens in the Philippines, Four Dead
Super Typhoon Fung-wong has taken a lighter toll on the Philippines, with four deaths reported so far. Authorities are assessing the damage as the storm's fury subsides. Despite being one of the year's most powerful storms to hit the country, no major destruction has been reported yet.
More than a million people were evacuated before Fung-wong made landfall on Sunday, bringing fierce winds, heavy rain, and storm surges to Luzon, the country's most populous island. Many residents endured a sleepless night due to the storm.
"We could not sleep because of the winds hitting our metal sheets and tree branches falling," said Romeo Mariano, who sheltered with his grandmother in their home in Isabela province. "When we got out to check our home, we saw the damage."
Civil defence senior official Raffy Alejandro indicated that the death toll is expected to remain low. A mudslide in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya province, buried a house, killing two children, according to regional civil defence official Alvin Ayson.
The two other fatalities resulted from drowning and falling debris. Landslides caused by Fung-wong also isolated at least four towns in Aurora province, where the typhoon made landfall.
Summary
Typhoon Fung-wong, one of the strongest storms of the year in the Philippines, caused four deaths but minimal damage after widespread evacuations and natural barriers reduced its impact.