A powerful typhoon, Kalmaegi, swept through the central Philippines on Monday, leaving a trail of devastation in its path. The storm, which made landfall in the eastern province of Southern Leyte around midnight, brought sustained winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour (87 mph) and gusts reaching 195 kph (121 mph). By noon, it had reached Bacolod city in Negros Occidental province, causing widespread destruction and displacing tens of thousands of residents. Initial reports confirmed at least two fatalities: an elderly villager drowned in Southern Leyte, and another was killed by a fallen tree in Bohol province. Flash floods submerged cars and trapped residents on rooftops in several communities, including Liloan and Mandaue in Cebu province. Gwendolyn Pang, secretary-general of the Philippine Red Cross, described the dire situation, noting that rescue efforts were hampered by debris and floating vehicles. The typhoon also triggered a province-wide power outage in Southern Leyte and damaged approximately 300 rural shanties in Homonhon, Eastern Samar. Despite the destruction, no injuries or deaths were reported in the area. Kalmaegi, the 20th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, is expected to move westward into the South China Sea by Tuesday evening or early Wednesday. Authorities had evacuated over 150,000 people in anticipation of the storm, which brought torrential rains, destructive winds, and storm surges of up to 3 meters (10 feet). The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, faces about 20 typhoons annually, along with frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The central island provinces, including Cebu, are still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake on September 30, which killed 79 people and displaced thousands. As Kalmaegi continues its path, residents remain on high alert for potential volcanic mudflows on Mount Kanlaon and other hazards.
Typhoon leaves at least 2 dead, traps people on roofs and submerges cars in central Philippines
