Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in the Philippines overnight, unleashing powerful winds and heavy rains across the central part of the archipelago. The storm has tragically claimed at least one life and forced the evacuation of over 150,000 people to higher ground before it arrived. Disaster response teams worked tirelessly to move residents from vulnerable coastal areas in eastern provinces, anticipating torrential downpours, damaging winds, and significant storm surges up to 3 meters.
As of Monday morning, Kalmaegi was traversing Sagay city in Negros Occidental province, packing sustained winds of 150 kph and gusts reaching 185 kph. The typhoon initially struck land around midnight in Silago town, Southern Leyte. This marks the 20th tropical cyclone to impact the Philippines this year.
Initial reports indicate an elderly villager drowned in floodwaters in Southern Leyte, which also experienced a complete power outage. The typhoon is expected to move northwestward and exit into the South China Sea by Tuesday. Authorities are particularly concerned for central island provinces like Cebu, which is still grappling with the aftermath of a recent earthquake.