Philippines Emergency After Kalmaegi, Eyes 'Uwan' Next

Published on Nov 7, 2025, 1:23 pm CST

4 min read

Key points

Philippines declares nationwide emergency November 6 after Typhoon Kalmaegi's deadly floods
PAGASA tracks Severe Tropical Storm Uwan, highest likely Wind Signal No. 5 with Luzon impacts November 8-10
Airlines canceled dozens of flights this week and several carriers issued flexible change options
Philippine Coast Guard and ports flagged rough to very rough seas with inter-island trip suspensions
Travelers should pad transfers for Manila and Clark and avoid ferries on warned corridors

Impact

Air Travel: Expect rolling delays and short-notice schedule changes at Manila and Clark; rebook early where waivers apply
Ferries: Avoid inter-island trips on eastern and northern Luzon routes and parts of Visayas where seas turn rough to very rough
Metro Manila & Luzon: Wind Signals may escalate through the weekend; plan for power and surface-transport interruptions during peak bands
Rebooking & Refunds: Use airline advisories for fee-free moves; document delays for disruption claims
What To Watch: PAGASA bulletins on Uwan's track, Wind Signals, and shipping warnings through November 10

The Philippines declared a nationwide emergency on November 6 after Typhoon Kalmaegi caused catastrophic flooding, then turned attention to a new system as Severe Tropical Storm Fung-Wong, locally named "Uwan," advances toward Luzon this weekend. Government tallies and local reporting show more than one hundred fatalities and widespread displacement from Kalmaegi, while forecasters warn that Uwan could bring dangerous winds, heavy rain, and hazardous seas from November 8 to 10. Travelers should expect marine and flight disruptions and build buffers for Manila and Clark, with extra caution on inter-island ferries.

PAGASA track, timing, and wind signals

PAGASA's late-day bulletin on November 7 labels the system "Severe Tropical Storm Uwan (Fung-Wong)" and states the highest Wind Signal likely during its passage is Signal No. 5, with signals potentially hoisted over the eastern side of Luzon and Samar as early as Saturday. PAGASA also highlights gusty to gale-force conditions outside the signal areas, especially along eastern seaboards on Saturday and expanding by Sunday, with stormy conditions possible over Luzon and Eastern Visayas November 9-10. Forecast coastal waters turn moderate to rough in northern and eastern Luzon and the eastern Visayas as seas worsen into the weekend. Travelers should align plans to the signal map and coastal warnings as the track updates.

Emergency scope and current impacts

The nationwide emergency follows Kalmaegi's lethal flooding across Central Visayas and neighboring provinces earlier this week. National and international reporting cite at least 114 confirmed fatalities and more than 1.9 million people affected, with hundreds of thousands displaced to shelters, and continuing search and relief operations. Aviation and maritime operations saw mass cancellations during the peak of Kalmaegi, and authorities have warned of renewed disruption as Uwan approaches.

Flights, waivers, and airport planning

Carriers scrubbed dozens of flights on November 3-5 as Kalmaegi crossed the country, and further trims remain possible as Uwan nears. Philippine media compiled cancellation lists for November 3-4, while airlines issued flexible rebooking policies on affected routes. Example: Cathay Pacific published a special ticketing guideline for Cebu travel on November 4-5, waiving rebooking and rerouting charges. If you are booked into Manila or Clark across November 8-10, move to earlier departures where possible, and watch for day-before timetable edits as rotations unwind.

Ferries and port advisories

Rough to very rough seas and gale warnings triggered widespread sea-trip suspensions and passenger strandings during Kalmaegi's peak, and similar conditions are anticipated on wind-exposed corridors as Uwan nears. The Philippine Coast Guard and local media reported several thousand stranded on November 5, with additional suspensions on eastern routes. Given PAGASA's forecast of worsening seas along the northern and eastern seaboards, avoid non-essential inter-island travel on those routes and monitor port operator channels closely.

Background

PAGASA, the national meteorological service, issues Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals to convey expected wind strength and timing by area. Signals escalate from No. 1 to No. 5, with higher numbers indicating more dangerous winds over shorter lead times. Shipping warnings and coastal-water forecasts are issued alongside these bulletins and can prompt port authorities and the Coast Guard to suspend voyages when seas turn unsafe.

Latest developments

As of November 7, national and international outlets report the emergency declaration, the rising toll from Kalmaegi, and Uwan's intensification to a severe tropical storm as it moves toward the Philippine Area of Responsibility with potential Luzon impacts beginning this weekend. Continue to check PAGASA bulletins for updated track, rainfall, and signal details through landfall and passage.

Final thoughts

The Philippines' emergency declaration after Kalmaegi underscores a high-impact recovery window that now overlaps with Severe Tropical Storm Uwan. If you must travel, rebuild itineraries around earlier flights, avoid ferry corridors under warnings, and anchor decisions to the latest PAGASA wind signals and shipping advisories.