Typhoon Kalmaegi has struck the central Philippines after making landfall overnight, bringing with it a deadly storm surge, devastating winds, and torrential rain. As of Monday, officials confirmed one death and reported that over 150,000 people had been evacuated to secure locations in advance of the storm’s arrival. The typhoon made its initial impact in Silago, Southern Leyte, around midnight before moving across Sagay city in Negros Occidental province with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gusts reaching 185 kph.
The Philippines is no stranger to such weather events, with Kalmaegi being the 20th tropical cyclone to hit the nation this year. The storm’s broad wind span, extending about 600 km, poses a significant threat to central island provinces. Authorities had warned of severe weather conditions, including storm surges of up to three meters.
The confirmed fatality occurred in Southern Leyte, where an elderly resident drowned in floodwaters. The province also reported a complete power outage. Kalmaegi is expected to continue its northwestward path, moving into the South China Sea later Tuesday. The recovery efforts in areas like Cebu, recently hit by a powerful earthquake, are now complicated by the typhoon’s passage.