Typhoon Fung-wong,known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Uwan,is an active and large tropical cyclone in the South China Sea,currently affecting the northwestern portion of Luzon in the Philippines. The twenty-sixth named storm and thirteenth typhoon of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season,Fung-wong developed from a broad low-pressure area northeast of Chuuk on November3. The system gradually organized over the following days,then underwent rapid intensification on November8 as atmospheric conditions became more favorable. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgraded the system to a typhoon on November7,and early the next day,the Philippine Atmospheric,Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) classified it as a super typhoon. A few hours later,the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) assessed Fung-wong as a Category4-equivalent typhoon. Known for its exceptional size,the storm reached a diameter of approximately 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) at peak intensity,shortly before making landfall in Dinalungan,Aurora on the evening of November9. It weakened as it crossed Luzon and later moved back over the South China Sea.
Fung-wong made landfall only five days after Typhoon Kalmaegi had devastated central parts of the Philippines,compounding recovery efforts. The storm caused extensive flooding and severe wind damage along its track,particularly in the Bicol Region and Northern Luzon. Initial reports indicate at least eight fatalities and 15 injuries,with most casualties linked to flooding and landslides.
Meteorological history
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity,according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
On November3, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began monitoring an area of convection that had developed approximately 300 nautical miles (560km) northeast of Chuuk. Satellite imagery showed a consolidating low-level circulation center (LLCC) with displaced cells of convection concentrated along its eastern quadrant. The disturbance was situated in a favorable environment, featuring low vertical wind shear of 5–10 knots (9.3–18.5km/h; 5.8–11.5mph), moderate equatorward outflow, and warm sea surface temperatures of 29–30°C (84–86°F).[1] At 18:00UTC, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) classified the system as a tropical depression with obscure deep convection and a favorable environment.[2] At 19:30UTC, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert with displaced cells of convection along the LLCC.[3] Subsequently, the JTWC issued its first warning at 09:00UTC the next day and designated the system as 32W, as convection continued to consolidate around the center.[4] Convective banding started obscuring the LLCC along with a disorganized circulation with flaring convection.[5][6]
Throughout November5, the depression maintained its intensity while drifting eastward, steered by a subtropical ridge to the north. Satellite imagery noted a broad and partially exposed LLCC as the system remained expansive in size.[7] The JMA noted that the system's structure had limited firmness, causing it to maintain its intensity.[8] The JTWC, meanwhile, found the system attempting to gain organization.[9] At 18:00UTC, the system had become better organized, and the JMA upgraded it to tropical storm status, giving it the name Fung-wong as it began tracking west-northwestward.[10] At 03:00UTC on November 6, the JTWC also upgraded the system into a tropical storm, citing deepening convection and steady consolidation.[11][12] The JMA eventually upgraded Fung-wong to a severe tropical storm due to a favorable environment as it moved west along the southern periphery of a subtropical high.[13][14] Convective banding wrapped around the center more tightly as the circulation showed signs of consolidation.[15]
The next day, the JTWC noted that deep convective bands had wrapped tightly around the circulation, obscuring the LLCC.[16] At 17:00PHT (09:00UTC), PAGASA assigned the local name Uwan—the replacement for Urduja following its retirement in 2017—even though the system remained outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at the time, as its outer rainbands were already affecting parts of the country.[17][18] This marked the second instance on record—after Tropical Depression Romina (later Pabuk) in 2024—in which PAGASA assigned a local name prior to a system entering the PAR. At 15:00UTC, the JTWC upgraded Fung-wong to a typhoon, citing a favorable environment,[19][20] with the JMA upgrading it to typhoon status three hours later.[21] Later that day, however, the JTWC reported that the system's structure had become disorganized, with fragmented upper-level banding.[22] By November8, increased wind shear of 25–30 knots (46–56km/h; 29–35mph) and cooler sea surface temperatures temporarily slowed the typhoon's intensification.[23] Nonetheless, strong radial outflow persisted, with deep convection continuing to wrap around the center.[24] During the early hours of November9, the system began to reintensify, leading the JMA to classify it as a very strong typhoon.[25] Satellite imagery showed a cloud-filled and slightly asymmetric eye as the typhoon contended with easterly shear, though continued outflow allowed further strengthening as it tracked east of Manila.[26]
At 08:00PHT (00:00UTC), PAGASA reported that Fung-wong had rapidly intensified into a super typhoon, with estimated winds of 185km/h (115mph) and gusts to 230km/h (145mph), and an estimated diameter of 1,800km (1,100mi).[27][28] At 09:00UTC, the JTWC assessed peak one-minute maximum sustained winds of 215km/h (135mph).[29] At approximately 21:10PHT (13:10UTC), Fung-wong made landfall over Dinalungan, Aurora as a super typhoon[30] before weakening considerably as it crossed north-central Luzon, emerging over the coastal waters of La Union by 05:00PHT (21:00UTC) on November9 with a deteriorated convective structure.[31] After reentering the South China Sea, Fung-wong began curving northwestward along the southern periphery of a subtropical ridge.[32] By 03:00UTC on November10, the JMA downgraded it to a severe tropical storm due to continued weakening influenced by land interaction.[33][34] Fung-wong then shifted north-northwestwards as it is rounding the axis of the subtropical ridge to the northeast, tracking towards Taiwan.[35]
Preparations
Philippines
Fung-wong (Uwan) Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Bulletin No. 9, showing Signal No. 5: the highest signal in TCWS.
Tracking of Fung-wong by PAGASA started on November 4 as they began issuing tropical cyclone advisories on the then-tropical depression far east of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). As early as this advisory, forecasts already indicated that Fung-wong would develop further into a super typhoon before making landfall over Northern Luzon.[36] Warning of the storm's wide circulation (around 700 kilometers or 430 miles), PAGASA called on residents to begin preparations as early as November 7, three days before its predicted landfall.[37] Numerous areas were issued TCWS Signal No. 1 at 17:00 PHT (09:00 UTC) on November 7.[17] Twelve hours later, Catanduanes, the northern and central portions of Northern Samar, the northeastern portion of Samar, and the northern portion of Eastern Samar were placed in Signal No. 2.[38] At 17:00 PHT (09:00 UTC) on November 8, Catanduanes, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, the eastern portion of Albay, the northeastern portion of Sorsogon, and the northeastern portion of Northern Samar was placed in Signal No. 3.[39] Six hours later, Catanduanes was placed in Signal No. 4.[40] As more areas were placed in Signal No. 4,[41] Signal No. 5 was issued for the Polillo Islands, the northern portion of Camarines Norte, and the eastern portion of Camarines Sur.[42] As the typhoon traversed Luzon, more areas were placed in Signal No. 5, including parts of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.[43] Eventually, at 02:00 PHT (18:00 UTC the previous day) on November 10, all Signal No. 5 alerts were removed.[44] By 11:00 PHT (03:00 UTC), all Signal No. 4 alerts were removed;[45] all Signal No. 3 alerts were also removed six hours later.[46]
Fung-wong immediately followed the passing of another typhoon in the Philippines just one week prior, Typhoon Kalmaegi. Following damage in the Visayas region as a result of Kalmaegi along with forecasts predicting super typhoon (>185km/h or 115mph) intensity with the emergence of Fung-wong, the entire country was placed under a national state of calamity on November 6.[47] Rescue operations for victims of Kalmaegi were suspended beginning November 8.[48] The Office of Civil Defense estimated that 30,800,000 people could be exposed to the effects of the storm.[49] Preparations for Fung-wong started while disaster response from Kalmaegi was still ongoing.[50] The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) immediately called for local governments to start preparations as the Philippine National Police began to activate disaster response plans and prepare response teams.[51] Both agencies implemented forced evacuations in high-risk areas.[52] The Armed Forces of the Philippines suspended its DAGIT-PA field exercises involving its Northern Luzon and Western Commands and deployed personnel to assist in disaster response.[53] The Department of Health went on heightened alert as health supplies containing a number of essential medicines were prepositioned in various regions of Luzon.[54]
By November 9, more than 1,100,000 people across Luzon and Visayas had been preemptively evacuated.[66] Approximately 6,607 passengers, crew, and cargo staff in 86 ports nationwide had also become stranded as sea travel was suspended by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).[67] The PCG was also placed on full alert in preparation for the typhoon.[68] Classes at all levels were suspended on November 10 and 11 across all regions of Luzon (Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, V, NCR, and CAR) and Visayas (Regions VI, VII, VIII, and NIR). Government work was also suspended in all of Luzon and in Eastern Visayas (VIII).[69] The number coding scheme in Metro Manila was also suspended for November 10.[70]
On November 10, the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Fung-wong, with waves of up to 6m (20ft) forecast in southern and southeastern Taiwan, the Hengchun Peninsula, and Penghu.[85] Meteorologists warned of more than 350mm (14in) of torrential rain, while authorities said nearly 5,000 people were to be evacuated in three townships of Hualien County.[86]
Hong Kong
On November 9, the HKO stated that it would issue the Standby Signal No. 1 in the afternoon the following day as the typhoon would enter within 800 km (500 mi) of Hong Kong.[87] On the next day, the HKO issued the Standby Signal No. 1 at 12:20 HKG (04:20 UTC).[88]
In the morning of November 10, immediately after Fung-wong's landfall, 149 areas in various parts of Central Luzon had begun flooding. Across 8 regions of the Philippines, 836,572 people were affected by the storm. 1,315,739 people from 13 regions were preemptively evacuated, with 482,614 displaced from their homes, 395,826 of which were staying inside government evacuation centers. Power was affected in 170 municipalities, the water supply was affected in 15 municipalities, and communication lines in 14 municipalities—all in Bicol Region—were cut off. An estimated ₱4.75 million(US$96,393.12) worth of assistance was provided to affected families. Over 894 search, rescue, and retrieval teams were deployed, with another 3,497 on standby.[91] At least 312 schools were heavily damaged,[92] along with 26 police facilities.[93] Four vessels ran aground in separate incidents in Antique, Batangas and Palawan.[94] At least 1,085 houses were damaged, while 71 roads and 26 bridges were rendered impassable.[95]
One person drowned in Catanduanes while another was killed after being trapped under debris in Catbalogan.[96] Three people were killed by landslides in Nueva Vizcaya,[97] including two children in Kayapa,[98] while four others were injured. One person was killed in a landslide in Barlig, while another landslide killed two people and left another two missing in Lubuagan.[99] Two injuries were recorded in Catanduanes and Calinog.[100] Two people were injured in Quezon City by an electronic billboard that was toppled by strong winds.[101] The storm also caused power outages in Luzon and Eastern Visayas that affected at least 184,000 customers and disrupted operations of the MRT Line 3.[102][103] Flooding occurred in parts of Bicol,[104] while storm surges reaching up to 4m (13ft) were observed in Catanduanes and Albay.[105] Lahar flows also occurred in Albay.[106] In Camarines Sur, a section of the Calabanga–Tinambac Road was blocked due to falling debris. The Tinambac–Tamban Road and the Tinambac–Goa Road were also closed.[107] A rail bridge was damaged in Guinobatan, Albay, forcing the Philippine National Railways to suspend its Naga–Legazpi route.[108] In Virac, Catanduanes, up to 392.4mm (15.45in) of rain was recorded from November 8 to 9, approaching the monthly average, while in Legazpi, Albay, 266mm (10.5in) of rain was recorded in the same period. In Daet, 215mm (8.5in) of rain was recorded.[109]
Water levels at Laguna de Bay reached 12.7m (42ft), exceeding its critical level of 12.5m (41ft).[110] In Aurora, a section of the Baler–Casiguran Highway was closed in Dipaculao after large waves breached the road. One person was injured in the province after falling from a roof.[111] Four towns were isolated,[112] while a seawall collapsed in Baler following a storm surge.[113] A landslide in Naga, Cebu injured six people and damaged nine houses.[114] Flooding also occurred in Zamboanga City, displacing around 4,047 residents.[115] A seawall partially collapsed in Navotas, causing waist-deep flooding.[116] A pumping station was damaged in Paco, Manila after water levels at the Pasig River reached 12m (39ft).[117] A flash flood in Apayao caused the Chico River to overflow, causing extensive flooding downstream in Cagayan.[118] Water levels at the Cagayan River under the Buntun Bridge in Tuguegarao reached 9.9m (32ft), exceeding its critical level of 9m (30ft).[97] The Pampanga government reported the flooding of 39 villages throughout the province; the towns of Masantol and Macabebe experienced 1 to 3 feet (0.30 to 0.91 metres) of flooding.[119]
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