Thousands of residents in the Philippines have been evacuated as Typhoon Kalmaegi approaches Leyte Island, bringing with it powerful winds and the threat of devastating storm surges. The typhoon, with sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 150 kph, is expected to make landfall in a region historically vulnerable to catastrophic storms. Evacuations have been ongoing for two days, particularly in coastal towns like Palo and Tanauan, which were severely impacted by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, a disaster that claimed over 6,000 lives. Neighboring Samar Island has also seen thousands evacuated, with predictions of three-meter storm surges. Local authorities in Guiuan town have even enforced mandatory evacuations to ensure safety. The Philippines, which faces an average of 20 storms annually, has already reached that number this year, with experts warning of three to five more storms before the end of December. In Dinagat Islands province, south of Leyte, preemptive evacuations have relocated 10,000 to 15,000 people to safer areas. Scientists attribute the increasing intensity of storms to human-driven climate change, while weather specialists note that higher cyclone activity often accompanies the La Nina climate pattern. The Philippines recently endured two major storms in September, including Super Typhoon Ragasa, which caused significant damage and fatalities in Taiwan.