This photo shows a flooded area after typhoon Fung-wong hit Catanduanes Province, the Philippines on Nov. 9, 2025. As of Sunday morning, Fung-wong was located 125 km east of Catanduanes in the Bicol region, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km per hour and gusts of up to 230 km per hour. It was moving west-northwest at 30 km per hour. Fung-Wong is the 21st tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, surpassing the country's annual average of 20 storms. (Catanduanes LGU/Handout via Xinhua)

MANILA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Super Typhoon Fung-wong has claimed the lives of at least two people before making landfall in the Philippines late Sunday or early Monday, authorities said.

Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), told a news conference Sunday afternoon that officials are verifying a report of a death in Catanduanes province in the Bicol region.

In Samar province in the central Philippines, firefighters recovered the body of a woman on Sunday from the debris of her house destroyed by Fung-wong's fierce winds, said Juniel Tagarino, head of the city's disaster risk reduction office.

Fung-wong is the 21st tropical cyclone and the most powerful to hit the Philippines this year, surpassing the country's annual average of 20 storms.

The OCD said at least 1.1 million people across 12 regions have been evacuated to safety as the storm approaches.

The state weather bureau warned that the Category 5 typhoon could bring destructive winds, torrential rain, flooding, and landslides, and may disrupt power and essential services.

As of Sunday afternoon, the typhoon was located about 110 km north of Camarines Norte province, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km per hour and gusts of up to 230 km per hour. It was moving west-northwest at 30 km per hour. ■

Houses are submerged in flood water due to typhoon Fung-wong in Catanduanes Province, the Philippines on Nov. 9, 2025. As of Sunday morning, Fung-wong was located 125 km east of Catanduanes in the Bicol region, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km per hour and gusts of up to 230 km per hour. It was moving west-northwest at 30 km per hour.

Fung-Wong is the 21st tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, surpassing the country's annual average of 20 storms. (Catanduanes LGU/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo shows an area affected by typhoon Fung-wong in Catanduanes Province, the Philippines on Nov. 9, 2025. As of Sunday morning, Fung-wong was located 125 km east of Catanduanes in the Bicol region, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km per hour and gusts of up to 230 km per hour. It was moving west-northwest at 30 km per hour.

Fung-Wong is the 21st tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, surpassing the country's annual average of 20 storms. (Catanduanes LGU/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo shows an area affected by typhoon Fung-wong in Catanduanes Province, the Philippines on Nov. 9, 2025. As of Sunday morning, Fung-wong was located 125 km east of Catanduanes in the Bicol region, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km per hour and gusts of up to 230 km per hour. It was moving west-northwest at 30 km per hour.

Fung-Wong is the 21st tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, surpassing the country's annual average of 20 storms. (Catanduanes LGU/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo shows an area affected by typhoon Fung-wong in Catanduanes Province, the Philippines on Nov. 9, 2025. As of Sunday morning, Fung-wong was located 125 km east of Catanduanes in the Bicol region, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km per hour and gusts of up to 230 km per hour. It was moving west-northwest at 30 km per hour.

Fung-Wong is the 21st tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, surpassing the country's annual average of 20 storms. (Catanduanes LGU/Handout via Xinhua)