Typhoon Kalmaegi Batters Philippines One Dead Thousands Evacuated

Manila: One person has died and tens of thousands have been evacuated after Typhoon Kalmaegi slammed into the central Philippines on Tuesday, bringing torrential rains, destructive winds, and life-threatening storm surges.

According to the national disaster agency, Typhoon Kalmaegi—locally known as Tino—made landfall early Tuesday with sustained winds of 150 km/h and gusts reaching 205 km/h. The powerful storm is expected to sweep across the Visayas region before exiting into the South China Sea by Wednesday.

Authorities confirmed widespread evacuations across the Visayas, parts of southern Luzon, and northern Mindanao. Rescue teams were deployed to flood-hit areas as rising waters submerged homes and streets.

Videos posted online showed devastating scenes in Talisay City and Cebu City, where entire neighborhoods were inundated, vehicles stranded, and rooftops barely visible above floodwaters.

The state weather bureau, PAGASA, said that Kalmaegi’s intensity was being fueled by a nearby shear line, producing heavy rains and strong winds across central and southern regions. “Tino may slightly weaken due to terrain interaction but will remain a typhoon throughout its passage,” PAGASA said in its latest update.

More than 160 flights have been cancelled, and maritime authorities have ordered ships to remain in safe harbours. PAGASA also warned of “life-threatening storm surges” exceeding 3 meters in coastal areas, urging residents to stay alert and follow evacuation orders.

Neighbouring Vietnam is also preparing for the storm’s impact, with its government issuing warnings for possible severe flooding when Kalmaegi makes landfall on Thursday night. The country is still recovering from earlier floods that killed at least 40 people last week.

Kalmaegi is the latest in a string of natural disasters to hit the Philippines, which experiences around 20 tropical cyclones each year. The nation is still reeling from the aftermath of Super Typhoon Ragasa in September, which devastated northern Luzon with powerful winds and torrential rains.