PAGASA Sounds Alarm: 'Uwan Could Redraw Coastlines' if Super Typhoon Hits Full Force
Super Typhoon Uwan, formerly known as Typhoon Fung-Wong, is rapidly intensifying and may reach the highest super-typhoon classification by Sunday evening or early Monday, warns the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The storm's impact covers a vast area from Batanes in the north to Bohol in the Visayas, putting many regions in the Philippines at severe risk.
Storm Characteristics and Risks
- Maximum sustained winds around 120 km/h with gusts up to 150 km/h.
- Storm surges expected to reach or exceed 3 metres in low-lying coastal areas of eastern Luzon, including Quezon (Polillo Islands), Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon.
PAGASA warns that the storm could "redraw coastlines" due to the powerful storm surges.
The combination of these surges with strong winds and heavy rainfall could drastically alter beachfronts, flood entire villages, erode shorelines, and change coastal topographies.
An International Business Times UK article stated that such a storm surge has the potential to transform affected areas dramatically.
Regions Most at Risk
- Eastern Luzon coastal areas
- Quezon (Polillo Islands)
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon
The ongoing situation demands urgent preparation as the typhoon poses a grave threat to millions of lives and the Philippine’s coastal geography.
Author’s Summary
This super typhoon may cause unprecedented changes to Philippine coastlines, threatening widespread flooding, erosion, and devastation across multiple provinces.