Typhoon Fung-wong moves away from Philippines, leaving eight dead

Typhoon Fungwong moved out of northwestern Philippines on Monday after triggering floods and landslides cutting off power in entire provinces killing at least eight people and displacing more than 14 million residents news agency AP reportedThe typhoon was forecast to head northwest towards TaiwanFungwong battered the northern region of Philippines even as the country was still reeling from the devastation caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi which left at least 224 people dead in central provinces on Tuesday before hitting Vietnam where at least five people were killed AP reportedThe typhoon made landfall in the northeastern province of Aurora on Sunday night as a super storm with sustained winds of up to 185 kilometre per hour 115 mph and gusts reaching 230 kph 143 mphThe 1800kilometre 1100milewide storm weakened as it swept across mountainous northern provinces and agricultural plains overnight before moving away from La Union province into the South China Sea according to state forecasters AP reportedOfficials reported that one person drowned in flash floods in the eastern province of Catanduanes while another died in Catbalogan city in eastern Samar province when her house collapsedIn the northern province of Nueva Vizcaya three children died in two separate landslides and four others were injured police told AP An elderly person was killed in a mudslide in Barlig a town in northern Mountain Province officials saidAnother landslide in Lubuagan town in nearby Kalinga province killed two villagers while two others were reported missing provincial officials said late MondayOver 14 million people moved into emergency shelters or the homes of relatives before the typhoon made landfall and about 318000 remained in evacuation centres on MondayStrong winds and heavy rain flooded at least 132 northern villages including one where residents were trapped on their roofs as floodwaters rapidly rose Around 1000 houses were damaged said Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV of the Office of Civil Defence adding that roads blocked by landslides would be cleared as the weather improved on MondayldquoWhile the typhoon has passed its rains still pose a danger in certain areas in northern Luzon including metropolitan Manilardquo Alejandro said ldquoWersquoll undertake today rescue relief and disasterresponse operationsrdquoPhilippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a state of emergency on Thursday due to the widespread devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fungwong which was also called Uwan in the PhilippinesTropical cyclones with sustained winds of 185 kph 115 mph or more are classified as super typhoons in the Philippines to highlight the urgency associated with such extreme weather eventsThe Philippines has not requested international assistance following the devastation caused by Kalmaegi but Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said the United States the countryrsquos longtime treaty ally and Japan were ready to extend helpAuthorities announced that schools and most government offices would remain closed on Monday and Tuesday More than 325 domestic and 61 international flights were cancelled over the weekend and into Monday while over 6600 passengers and cargo workers were stranded at ports after the coast guard barred ships from sailing due to rough seasThe Philippines is struck by around 20 typhoons and storms each year The country also experiences frequent earthquakes and has more than a dozen active volcanoes making it one of the most disasterprone nations in the worldWith AP inputs