Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, struck the central Philippines on Tuesday, causing one confirmed death and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. The storm brought intense winds of 150 kph, with gusts up to 205 kph, and heavy rainfall, severely impacting the Visayas region.
Flooding scenes emerged from Talisay City, where only rooftops were visible, and Cebu City, where streets and vehicles were submerged. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the typhoon, combined with a shear line, caused widespread heavy rain and strong winds across Visayas and nearby areas.
Although the storm may slightly weaken over the islands due to terrain interaction, it is expected to maintain typhoon strength throughout its passage. Authorities have canceled over 160 flights and advised ships at sea to seek the nearest safe harbor immediately. PAGASA also warned of life-threatening storm surges exceeding 3 meters in low-lying coastal areas.
Vietnam is also preparing for the impact of Kalmaegi, which is expected to make landfall in the country’s central region by Thursday night. This area has already been affected by severe floods over the past week, leaving 40 people dead and 6 missing. The Vietnamese government has described Kalmaegi as a “very strong typhoon” that continues to gain strength over the South China Sea.
The Philippines faces frequent tropical storms, averaging 20 annually, and is still recovering from recent disasters, including earthquakes and Super Typhoon Ragasa in September that caused severe wind damage and heavy rain across northern Luzon.
Typhoon Kalmaegi #PhilippinesFloods #VietnamWeather #TropicalStorm #DisasterPreparedness #ClimateUpdate #StormEvacuation #WeatherAlert
