Over 19,500 families were preemptively evacuated in the Calabarzon region as Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) threatens residents living in disaster-prone areas.
In a report on Sunday morning, the Calabarzon Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) said the evacuees composed of more than 63,700 individuals from at least 81 cities and municipalities were temporarily sheltered in evacuation centers – mostly school buildings, covered basketball courts, barangay offices, churches and chapels – in different parts of the region.
The evacuees were from ‘high-risk areas’ in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.
The RDRRMC said they continue to coordinate with the local government disaster management councils and other agencies to ensure the safety and welfare of the affected residents.
With Uwan approaching, the RDRRMC has placed the entire region under red alert status beginning Saturday.
A red alert status is the highest level of activation, signaling a full-scale readiness for disaster response. All personnel – from rescuers to local government officials – are mobilized for monitoring, coordination, and immediate action.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel of all vessels/watercraft in Southern Tagalog due to Uwan.
Uwan intensified into a super typhoon on Sunday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) announced.
Uwan is packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph), with gusts of up to 230 kph, the state weather bureau said.
Pagasa added that the super typhoon was last located 125 kilometers east-northeast of Virac Catanduanes, moving west-northwestward at 25 kph.
Pagasa hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) no. 5 in some areas in Luzon, including Quezon’s Polillo group of islands in the Pacific Ocean that host the municipalities of Polillo, Burdeos, Panukulan, Jomalig, and Patnanungan.
TCWS No. 4 is hoisted in some areas including the eastern portion of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Calauag, Guinayangan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon).
The provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal remain under TCWS No. 3. /das