Rescue teams are racing against time to reach stranded residents in central Philippines after Typhoon Kalmaegi swept through overnight, unleashing torrential rain and powerful winds that caused catastrophic flooding across multiple provinces.
Locally referred to as Tino, the typhoon made landfall around midnight in Silago, Southern Leyte, packing sustained winds of 140 km/h and gusts reaching 195 km/h. The storm — the 20th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year — dropped a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours over parts of the Visayas region, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In Maasin City and Lapu-Lapu City, rainfall reached 235.2mm and 185mm, respectively, causing floodwaters “up to head level” in some areas. The Philippine Red Cross reported that many residents were trapped on rooftops, as rescue operations were hampered by floating debris and strong currents.
“We’ve received so many calls for rescue, but it is impossible,” said Red Cross Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang. “There’s debris everywhere, cars floating. We have to wait for the flood to subside.”
Tragically, at least two people have died — an elderly villager drowned in Southern Leyte, while another was killed by a falling tree in Bohol. Widespread power outages have been reported across several provinces.
In Eastern Samar, where Kalmaegi first made impact, raging winds tore roofs off more than 300 homes on Homonhon Island, part of Guiuan town. Despite the destruction, no casualties were reported there.
Mayor Annaliza Gonzales Kwan noted that residents remained resilient:
“We’ve been through a lot, and bigger than this,” she said, recalling the devastating Typhoon Haiyan of 2013.
More than 150,000 people evacuated from coastal and low-lying areas before the storm’s arrival, as officials warned of three-meter storm surges, destructive winds, and massive flooding across the central islands.
As Kalmaegi continues to move westward at 25 km/h, forecasters expect it to exit into the South China Sea by late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Authorities have also issued warnings for possible volcanic mudflows near Mount Kanlaon, an active volcano on the island of Negros that has shown increased activity in recent months.
Despite the ongoing challenges, emergency services remain on high alert, coordinating rescue and relief efforts across the affected regions.
