The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) has placed all airport operations on heightened alert ahead of Severe Tropical Storm Fung-wong, which is expected to further intensify and enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by early Saturday.
In a Friday advisory, Caap Director General Raul del Rosario directed all airport managers ‘to activate their respective emergency preparedness and response plans to ensure the safety of passengers, aircraft, and airport facilities.’
Meanwhile, Caap said no flight cancellation was reported at any airport as of posting time.
Severe Tropical Storm Fung-wong is expected to enter PAR by midnight or early morning on Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.
Once the cyclone enters PAR, Pagasa will name it Uwan.
The severe tropical storm is forecast to continue to intensify into a typhoon within the next 24 hours and possibly reach super typhoon status by Saturday evening or Sunday morning. It may make landfall Monday in northern or Central Luzon, with 25 provinces across Luzon and the Visayas expected to receive heavy rain on Sunday.
The aviation alert follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s declaration of a state of national calamity in response to Typhoon Tino’s (Kalmaegi) devastation and the anticipated impact of the approaching super typhoon.