More than one million people across eastern, central, and northern provinces of the Philippines have been evacuated as Super Typhoon Fung-wong — locally known as “Uwan” — bears down on the archipelago.

At least two people have died amid flash flooding already caused by the storm: one in the town of Viga in Catanduanes province and another in Catbalogan City in Samar province, authorities reported.

Fung-wong intensified into a super typhoon early Sunday, packing sustained winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour) and gusts reaching 230 kilometers per hour (143 miles per hour). The massive weather system spans roughly 1,600 kilometers, large enough to cover nearly two-thirds of the country.

The Philippine weather bureau has warned of storm surges reaching up to five meters along coastal areas, as well as life-threatening flash floods and landslides in mountainous regions. The storm is expected to make landfall over the northern province of Aurora late Sunday or early Monday, with outer rain bands already lashing eastern provinces including Catanduanes and Samar.

The crisis comes as the nation is still reeling from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which struck the central provinces earlier in the week, leaving at least 224 people dead and widespread destruction in its wake.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a national state of emergency to accelerate aid, evacuation, and disaster-response operations. Schools and government offices in northern provinces will remain closed through Tuesday, while more than 300 domestic and 60 international flights have been canceled. Several airports and seaports, including those in Bicol and Metro Manila, have suspended operations as a precaution.

Power outages have been reported across parts of the eastern provinces, and maritime authorities have grounded all vessels in at least 109 ports to prevent accidents.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. urged citizens to comply with evacuation orders and prepare for potentially catastrophic conditions. “When the typhoon has already hit and flooding has started, it becomes very difficult to rescue people,” he warned.

Authorities estimate that more than 30 million people could be exposed to storm-related hazards in the coming days. Relief teams and emergency shelters have been placed on high alert, particularly in Cebu, Aurora, and the Manila region, where heavy rains and winds are expected to intensify.

Climate scientists have warned that such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent and severe due to global warming and human-induced climate change.

The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, experiences an average of 20 tropical cyclones each year. In November 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan — one of the strongest storms ever recorded — killed more than 6,300 people, a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of the island nation to powerful tropical systems. (ILKHA)