Storm approaches Taiwan after causing 18 deaths and destruction in the Philippines

Typhoon Fung-wong blew out of the northwestern Philippines on Monday after causing floods, landslides, power outages and at least 18 deaths.

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Fung-wong blew out of the northwestern Philippines on Monday after causing floods, landslides, power outages and at least 18 deaths.

The typhoon weakened into a tropical storm over the South China Sea and was moving northwest toward Taiwan, where it could hit Thursday.

Strong waves crashed against the sea wall in Yilan, Taiwan, on Monday, as Typhoon Fung-wong approached.I-Hwa Cheng / AFP via Getty ImagesFung-wong lashed the northern Philippines after Typhoon Kalmaegi struck central provinces last week, leaving at least 232 people dead, and later hitting Vietnam, where at least five were killed.

Fung-wong was a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph when it made landfall Sunday in northeastern Aurora province. The 1,100-mile-wide storm weakened as it raked through mountainous northern provinces and agricultural plains overnight before blowing into the South China Sea, according to state forecasters.

At least 18 people died due to flash floods, landslides, exposed electrical wires and a collapsed house in the provinces of Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province and Ifugao, disaster response and provincial officials said.