Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
Manila: At least one fatality was reported and tens of thousands have been moved to safety after Typhoon Kalmaegi struck central areas of the Philippines on Tuesday, unleashing heavy rain, violent winds and dangerous storm surges.
Officials from the national disaster agency said Kalmaegi—locally dubbed Tino—hit land early Tuesday with sustained winds near 150 km/h and gusts up to 205 km/h. The storm is forecast to travel across the Visayas before moving into the South China Sea by Wednesday.
Evacuation orders covered wide swathes of the Visayas, sections of southern Luzon and parts of northern Mindanao. Search-and-rescue teams were dispatched to areas where floodwaters have inundated homes and blocked streets.
Online footage from Talisay City and Cebu City showed neighbourhoods under deep water, stranded vehicles and roofs barely peeking above the floods.
The state weather service, PAGASA, said a nearby shear line was intensifying rainfall and winds across central and southern zones. “Tino may weaken somewhat after interacting with land but is expected to retain typhoon strength during its passage,” the agency said.
Airlines cancelled more than 160 flights, and maritime authorities ordered vessels to stay in port. PAGASA warned of life-threatening storm surges potentially topping three metres along some coasts and urged strict compliance with evacuation directives.
Vietnam has issued warnings and taken precautions as Kalmaegi approaches, with authorities expecting heavy flooding when the system reaches their shores on Thursday night. The country remains vulnerable after recent floods that claimed at least 40 lives last week.
Kalmaegi is the latest in a succession of storms that regularly affect the Philippines, which sees roughly 20 tropical cyclones annually. The archipelago is still recovering from Super Typhoon Ragasa in September, which heavily damaged parts of northern Luzon.
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