Super Typhoon Fung-won to slam Philippines, spare Thailand

The Thai Meteorological Department reported today that Super Typhoon Fung-won is forecast to make landfall on Luzon Island in the Philippines late tonight or early tomorrow morning, but it will not hit Thailand.

The storm has already developed into a super typhoon, with wind speeds at its centre reaching 230 kilometres per hour. It is bringing very heavy rainfall to the Philippines and waves of up to five metres at sea as it approaches Luzon Island.

More than 100,000 people have already been evacuated to safer areas.

According to the department, after hitting the Philippines, Fung-won will move into the northern reaches of the South China Sea on Monday and Tuesday, heading towards the Taiwan Strait.

The storm will not affect weather conditions in Thailand.

The Philippines is still reeling from the effects of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which devastated several towns in Cebu province last week, killing at least 204 people, with 109 still missing. Five people also died in Vietnam.