TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan evacuated over 3,300 residents and closed schools and offices on Tuesday in preparation for tropical storm Fung-wong, which left at least 25 people dead and displaced more than 1.4 million in the Philippines. The storm, initially classified as a typhoon, is weakening as it approaches Taiwan but remains dangerous for coastal and low-lying areas.

Storm Path and Intensity

As of Tuesday morning, Fung-wong had maximum sustained winds of 108 kph (67 mph) with gusts reaching 137 kph (85 mph). Taiwan’s weather agency forecasts that the storm will make landfall Wednesday afternoon or evening near the southwestern port city of Kaohsiung, then cross the island and exit from the northeast by Wednesday night or early Thursday.

Authorities in Taiwan issued a land warning covering southern and southwestern regions, including Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Tainan, and Taitung. Schools and offices were closed in Hualien and Yilan counties, and evacuations were prioritized in vulnerable areas, such as Guangfu township, where flooding from a September typhoon previously caused 18 deaths.

China also activated emergency typhoon measures in its southeastern provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Hainan.

Impact in the Philippines

Fung-wong first struck the northeastern coast of the Philippines as a super typhoon on Sunday, with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph) and gusts up to 230 kph (143 mph). The 1,800-kilometer-wide (1,100-mile) storm triggered flash floods and landslides in multiple northern provinces.

At least 19 deaths occurred in the Cordillera region, a sparsely populated mountainous area highly prone to landslides during the rainy season. Other fatalities resulted from flash floods, collapsed homes, and exposed electrical wires. Among the victims were three children buried in landslides in Nueva Vizcaya province, while a separate landslide in Kalinga province killed two villagers.

The Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense reported that over 803,000 people remained sheltered in 11,000 evacuation centers across northern Luzon, part of the more than 1.4 million displaced by the storm. Additionally, 29 people were injured in various incidents caused by the typhoon.

Regional Vulnerability

Both Taiwan and the Philippines are located in a typhoon-prone region and face frequent exposure to extreme weather events and earthquakes. Governments continue to emphasize early evacuations, disaster preparedness, and emergency response as critical measures to reduce loss of life during severe storms.