The aftermath: Super Typhoon Uwan (International Name: Typhoon Fung‑wong)

Published November 10, 2025

MANILA, Philippines — Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong) has moved out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Monday morning after battering northern and central Luzon over the weekend, leaving behind widespread flooding, power outages, and at least two confirmed deaths.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Uwan exited the country’s jurisdiction at around 5:00 a.m., moving west-northwest toward the South China Sea while gradually weakening.

At its peak, the typhoon packed sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 230 km/h, making it one of the strongest storms to hit the Philippines in 2025.

Heavy Damage in Northern Luzon

The storm made landfall in Dinalungan, Aurora province, late Saturday night, bringing torrential rains and violent winds that ripped through homes, uprooted trees, and knocked out power in several provinces, including Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Cagayan.

Local disaster officials reported that two people died — one due to drowning in Catanduanes and another after being trapped under debris in Samar. Several others were injured or remain missing as rescue teams continue clearing operations.

“The damage is extensive in low-lying towns,” said Aurora Governor Gerardo Noveras. “Many houses were either destroyed or heavily damaged, and roads remain blocked by landslides.”

Mass Evacuations Saved Lives

Before landfall, government agencies successfully evacuated more than one million residents from high-risk coastal and mountainous areas across 12 regions. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) credited early warnings and public cooperation for minimizing casualties.

“Preparedness made a huge difference this time,” Defense Secretary and NDRRMC Chair Gilbert Teodoro said. “We’re now focusing on relief distribution and restoring critical infrastructure.”

Flooding and Storm Surges

Even after the storm’s departure, several provinces are still reeling from flooding and storm surges. Water levels in Cagayan River and Pampanga River remain high, prompting extended evacuation orders.

Storm surges reaching up to three meters inundated coastal communities in Catanduanes, Samar, and Aurora, while strong waves destroyed fishing boats and washed out seawalls.

Power and Transport Disruptions

Electricity remains out in large portions of Aurora, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya, though power companies have begun restoration work.
Airports in Tuguegarao, Cauayan, and Baler have resumed limited operations, while land transport remains affected by debris and fallen trees.

Telecommunication services are gradually being restored, with government agencies prioritizing connectivity for emergency coordination.

🔌 Power Disruptions

• About 184,000 customers reportedly lost power in parts of Luzon as the typhoon battered the region.

• The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported more than 20 transmission lines down across Luzon and Visayas due to Uwan.

• Specific areas affected: Ilocos Sur (Vigan substation), La Union (Bacnotan, Balaoan), Benguet, Zambales, Pampanga.

• These power outages widened vulnerability: fewer streetlights, traffic signals down, elevators/escalators unavailable at metro stations.

• Government agencies urged swift evacuation and readiness amid power loss and flooding risks.

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🚧 Transport Disruptions

• Sea-trips and ferry operations were cancelled due to the storm: the Philippine Ports Authority announced many cancelled routes as of 9 Nov.

• Roads were blocked in mountainous or coastal areas due to fallen trees, debris and landslides triggered by the high winds and rainbands.

• The government mobilised buses, trucks and suspended tolls for emergency convoys to ease movement of evacuees and responders.

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Humanitarian Response Underway

Relief operations are now in full swing. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed food packs and bottled water to over 300,000 displaced residents, while the Philippine Red Cross deployed medical and rescue teams in flood-hit areas.

“We still have isolated barangays that need assistance,” said Aurora Provincial Disaster Officer Mark Santos. “We’re coordinating with the military to airlift supplies if roads remain impassable.”

Out of PAR but Not Yet Over

As of this morning, PAGASA said Uwan is moving further away from the country but will continue to enhance the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan), bringing cooler temperatures and light to moderate rains over northern Luzon in the coming days.

Residents in mountain slopes and river basins are urged to stay alert for possible landslides and flash floods, especially as ground conditions remain saturated.

• The storm’s effects don’t stop simply because the center has moved. Its size and reach can still generate hazardous conditions in areas far from the center track—including coastal surge, uplift winds, and heavy rainfall.

• Terrain matters: as Uwan traverses mountains in northern Luzon, flash floods and landslides remain a risk because soils are saturated and rivers elevated.

• Infrastructure stress: Damaged power lines, disrupted roads, and blocked evacuation routes can worsen as weather lingers, slowing recovery and increasing vulnerability.

• The weather bureau explicitly cautioned against focusing only on the center of the storm, saying that danger may strike even areas not directly under the eye.

Resilience Amid Recovery

As Typhoon Uwan barreled across northern Luzon, the Sierra Madre mountain range stood as a natural barrier, absorbing much of the storm’s destructive energy. Stretching over 500 kilometers along the eastern coast of Luzon, the range is the Philippines’ longest mountain chain, and its dense forests and rugged terrain play a critical role in disaster mitigation.

Meteorologists and local officials note that the mountains disrupted Uwan’s wind patterns and slowed rainfall runoff, reducing the intensity of flooding and wind damage for communities located on the leeward side. Rivers originating in the Sierra Madre, such as the Dingalan and Umiray rivers, acted as natural channels, guiding excess water safely toward less populated areas and helping prevent larger-scale inundation.

For residents of Aurora, Cagayan, and Isabela provinces, the mountains are more than just geographic features—they are lifelines. During past typhoons, the range has repeatedly protected inland towns from the full brunt of storms coming from the Pacific. In Uwan’s case, early reports suggest that towns situated behind the mountains experienced less severe flooding and wind damage, allowing disaster-response teams to focus on the most exposed areas first.

Environmental scientists also highlight the forests within the Sierra Madre, which act as windbreakers and soil stabilizers, reducing landslide risks in mountainous villages. Conservationists argue that preserving the mountain range is as crucial as preparing evacuation plans: intact forests significantly improve resilience against typhoons, storm surges, and flash floods.

Residents express a mixture of awe and gratitude. One Aurora barangay official said, “We owe our safety to these mountains; they are our first line of defense before any human help arrives.” While early evacuations and relief efforts saved lives, the Sierra Madre’s protective role underscores how human and natural systems work together to withstand the Philippines’ frequent and powerful typhoons.

• Strong early coordination means fewer lives lost and faster beginning of recovery. The fact that multiple agencies were activated before the full impact speaks to improved disaster‑preparedness.

• Recovery isn’t just about rebuilding homes — it’s about re‑establishing systems (education, healthcare, law & order) so the affected communities can bounce back.

• In regions like Northern Luzon (which include rugged terrain, coastal zones, and vulnerable communities), resilience means adapting to frequent storms — the infrastructure and social‑systems are being stress‑tested and strengthened.

⚠️ Challenges ahead

• Some communities remain cut off (due to damaged roads, power, communications) and may take longer to recover.

• The cumulative effect: because they’ve just been hit by previous storms (for example, the earlier Typhoon Kalmaegi), resources are already stretched.

• Recovery must ensure equity — vulnerable groups (elderly, persons with disabilities, remote barangays) might lag behind.

• The physical rebuilding (homes, schools, roads) must go hand‑in‑hand with psychosocial support, ensuring people feel safe and supported, not just structurally restored.

🔍 What to watch in the coming days

• Progress in clearing roads and restoring power/communications in the most‑affected barangays.

• Re‑opening of schools (or alternate learning setups) and how quickly students resume normal routines.

• The arrival and distribution of relief goods, shelter kits, and how agencies report “help reached” vs “help still needed”.

• How local governments document damage‑assessment and coordinate with national/international aid — important for your content‑moderation work to spot verified vs unverified claims.

 Overall Takeaway:

The recovery phase for Typhoon Uwan is underway, and while the storm’s immediate threat may be receding, the work of rebuilding and strengthening is just beginning. The Philippines is showing strong signs of resilience: coordination across agencies, early evacuations, and preparedness are positive. But the path ahead involves more than repair — it’s about empowering communities to withstand the next one.

SOURCES: GULF NEWS – Monster storm ‘Uwan’: Category 4 super typhoon with 220 km/h winds set for Philippines ‘direct hit’

THE WATCHERS – Super Typhoon Fung-wong (Uwan) makes nighttime landfall in northern Luzon, Philippines

CBS NEWS – Super Typhoon Fung-wong slams into Philippines after displacing 1 million

AP NEWS – Super Typhoon Fung-wong slams into Philippines, killing 2 and displacing 1 million