Fengshen Hits Luzon; China, Taiwan Brace

Tropical Storm Fengshen (locally Ramil) made landfall near Gubat in southeastern Luzon on Oct. 18–19, battering coastal towns with heavy rain, storm surge and damaging winds and triggering flash floods and landslides. Authorities say the storm killed between five and eight people, including a family of five crushed by a fallen tree in Pitogo and a drowning in Capiz. Officials ordered mass evacuations — roughly 27,000 moved inland in Albay and more than 9,000 on Catanduanes, while some outlets report up to 47,000 sheltered — and suspended sea travel, leaving thousands stranded at ports. Fengshen has moved into the South China Sea and is forecast to head toward southern China and Vietnam, with forecasters warning it could strengthen to about 70 mph and produce 1–2 metre waves that raise coastal flooding risks. In Guangdong, authorities activated a Level IV typhoon emergency, recalled fishing vessels and evacuated offshore workers while hydrological services issued rolling flood alerts; Taiwan also warned of torrential and extremely heavy rainfall in northern and northeastern counties through Oct. 27.