MANILA: The Philippines’ weather bureau warned of life-threatening storm surges of up to five meters and destructive winds as Typhoon Fung-wong churns toward the country’s eastern coast, where it is forecast to intensify into a super typhoon before making landfall on Sunday night.
The typhoon’s massive circulation, spanning 1,500 kilometers (932 miles), is already lashing parts of eastern Philippines with heavy rains and winds, PAGASA weather forecaster Benison Estareja said in a briefing.
“It can cover almost the entire country,” Estareja said.
Fung-wong, locally named Uwan, is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph and gusts of up to 170 kph, and could intensify to 185 kph as it nears land, Estareja said, powerful enough to destroy homes, topple trees and structures.
Up to 200 mm of rainfall is expected in eastern Philippine provinces, particularly in the Bicol region, as well as parts of Samar, raising the risk of widespread flooding and landslides, while northern and central Luzon could see 100-200 mm rainfall during its passage.
PAGASA urged residents in low-lying and coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground and halt all marine activities, warning of destructive storm surges that could inundate coastal communities, and warned of violent winds.
Several local governments have suspended classes for Monday, and the Philippines’ flag carrier has canceled some flights, ahead of Fung-wong’s expected landfall.
The warning comes just days after Typhoon Kalmaegi left a trail of destruction across the region, ripping through coastal communities, toppling trees, and shredding roofs and windows.
Kalmaegi killed 204 people in the Philippines and five in Vietnam, displaced hundreds of thousands, and knocked out power across wide areas.
Vietnam’s disaster agency reported damage to nearly 2,800 homes, and said about 500,000 people remain without electricity. In the Philippines, raging floods destroyed homes and clogged streets with debris.
Vietnam and the Philippines are highly vulnerable to tropical storms and typhoons due to their locations along the Pacific typhoon belt, regularly experiencing damage and casualties during peak storm seasons.
In Thailand, Kalmaegi’s lingering impact caused heavy rain and localized flooding in parts of the northeast and central regions.
Scientists have warned that storms such as Kalmaegi are becoming more powerful as global temperatures rise.
Philippines warns of deadly storm surges as massive Typhoon Fung-wong nears super typhoon strength
https://arab.news/m554a
Philippines warns of deadly storm surges as massive Typhoon Fung-wong nears super typhoon strength
- The typhoon’s massive circulation, spanning 1,500 kilometers, is already lashing parts of eastern Philippines with heavy rains and winds
- Weather forecaster urged residents in low-lying and coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground and halt all marine activities
Italian PM pledges to deepen cooperation with African states
- The plan, launched in 2024, aims to promote investment-led cooperation rather than traditional aid
ADDIS ABABA: Italy pledged to deepen cooperation with African countries at its second Italy-Africa summit, the first held on African soil, to review projects launched in critical sectors such as energy and infrastructure during Italy’s first phase of the Mattei Plan for Africa.
The plan, launched in 2024, aims to promote investment-led cooperation rather than traditional aid.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed dozens of African heads of state and governments in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, and reiterated that a successful partnership would depend on Italy’s “ability to draw from African wisdom” and ensure lessons are learned.
“We want to build things together,” she told African heads of state. “We want to be more consistent with the needs of the countries involved.”
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Italy had provided Africa with a gateway to Europe through these partnerships.
“This is a moment to move from dialogue to action,” he said.
“By combining Africa’s energetic and creative population with Europe’s experience, technology, and capital, we can build solutions that deliver prosperity to our continents and beyond.”
After the Italy-Africa summit concluded, African leaders remained in Addis Ababa for the annual African Union Summit.
Kenyan writer and political analyst Nanjala Nyabola said tangible results from such summits depend on preparations made by countries.
African governments often focus on “optics instead of actually making summits a meaningful engagement,” she said.
Instead of waiting for a list of demands, countries should “present the conclusions of an extended period of mapping the national needs” and engage in dialogue to determine how those needs can be met.
Since it was launched two years ago, the Mattei Plan has directly involved 14 African nations and has launched or advanced around 100 projects in crucial sectors, including energy and climate transition, agriculture and food security, physical and digital infrastructure, healthcare, water, culture and education, training, and the development of artificial intelligence, according to the Italian government.
