Super Typhoon Fung-wong approaches Philippines, nearly 1 million evacuated

Philippines weather bureau warns of 'life-threatening conditions' as super storm heads for its largest island

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(Al Jazeera) Nearly a million people have evacuated their homes in the Philippines as the country braced for another powerful storm, days after a typhoon killed more than 200 people.

The storm, named Fung-wong, started battering northeastern Philippines on Sunday before its expected landfall, knocking down power and prompting warnings from the weather bureau of a “high risk of life-threatening conditions” in parts of the country.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Fung-wong, locally known as Uwan, is forecast to make landfall in Aurora province as early as Sunday night with maximum sustained winds of up to 185 kilometres per hour (115 miles per hour) and gusts of up to 230km/h (143mph).

It raised the highest alert level, Signal No 5, for southeastern and central areas, including Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Aurora province, while Metro Manila and nearby provinces were under Signal No 3.