A person lost their life when Typhoon Kalmaegi struck central Philippines on Tuesday, according to the national disaster agency. Heavy rainfall, fierce winds, and storm surges prompted tens of thousands to evacuate their homes.
With sustained winds reaching 150 km/h and gusts up to 205 km/h at landfall early Tuesday, Kalmaegi—locally called Tino— is expected to traverse the Visayas islands and exit into the South China Sea by Wednesday.
Throughout the Visayas, as well as parts of southern Luzon and northern Mindanao, mass evacuations took place, and the disaster agency confirmed one fatality.
A video shared by DZRH radio on Facebook depicted homes in Talisay City fully submerged, with just rooftops visible. Similar scenes emerged on social media from Cebu City, where streets and vehicles were underwater.
The Philippine weather bureau PAGASA explained that the combined effects of Kalmaegi and a shear line brought heavy rains and strong winds across the region.
“Due to interaction with the terrain, Tino may weaken slightly as it crosses Visayas, but it’s projected to stay at typhoon strength throughout its passage over the country,” PAGASA stated in a morning update.
More than 160 flights to and from the affected zones have been canceled. Mariners were advised to find safe harbor immediately and remain anchored until conditions improve.
The agency issued warnings for potentially life-threatening and damaging storm surges, estimating heights over 3 meters along coastlines and low-lying areas in central Philippines, including parts of Mindanao.
Vietnam also announced preparations for the worst as Kalmaegi approaches, with landfall expected Thursday night in central regions already hit hard by recent floods that resulted in at least 40 deaths and six missing persons last week.
“The typhoon is extremely strong and continues to intensify in the East Sea,” the government noted in a statement, referencing the South China Sea.
This storm hits as the Philippines, accustomed to around 20 tropical storms annually, recovers from a series of recent disasters, including earthquakes and severe weather events.
In September, Super Typhoon Ragasa battered northern Luzon, causing shutdowns of government operations and schools due to powerful winds and relentless rain.
الوسم: storm surge
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Typhoon Kalmaegi causes 1 death in Philippines, heading to Vietnam
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Erin’s Rapid Surge Hits Caribbean, Elevates US Flood Threat
Hurricane Erin’s extensive impact swept across Caribbean islands with strong gusts and heavy rain on Monday, as it posed risks of rip currents and flooding along the U.S. East Coast later this week, even without an anticipated landfall. The Category 4 storm saw significant rapid intensification over the weekend, a phenomenon linked by scientists to human-induced climate change. Briefly reaching Category 5 status before slightly weakening, Erin’s maximum sustained winds are now clocked at 140 mph while moving northwest at 10 mph, according to the latest report from the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The storm’s size is unusual, with hurricane-force winds extending 80 miles and tropical storm winds spreading out to 230 miles.
Forecast models project outer rainbands to drench Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas—where a tropical storm warning remains in effect—through Monday into Tuesday. Localized rainfall totals could reach up to six inches (15 centimeters). Jamie Rhome, the deputy director of the NHC, cautioned Americans not to dismiss the threat because Erin’s projected track stays offshore. He warned that parts of the Mid-Atlantic, particularly North Carolina’s Outer Banks, could experience waves up to 20 feet (six meters), coastal flooding, and storm surges that might flood homes, wash out roads, and render some areas inaccessible. Evacuations are underway for Ocracoke and Hatteras islands in North Carolina.
Beginning Tuesday, much of the East Coast faces a heightened danger of life-threatening surf and rip currents, which occur when water channels surge away rapidly from the shoreline. In Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory with a population exceeding three million, heavy flooding over the weekend inundated homes and roads in the eastern region, causing widespread power outages. Although most services have since been restored, the island experienced significant disruption.
Daniel Gilford, a climate scientist with Climate Central, pointed out that Erin is among the fastest-recorded storms to intensify so rapidly. He explained that this intensification correlates with unusually warm ocean surface temperatures—climate change has made such extreme heat more likely, increasing the energy available for storm development. Climate Central’s analysis indicates Erin traveled over waters whose extreme warmth was up to 100 times more probable due to climate change.
The Atlantic hurricane season, spanning June 1 to November 30, has now reached its climatic peak. So far, it has been relatively subdued with just four named storms, but NOAA forecasts indicate an above-average season overall. Typically, a season produces around 14 named storms, with seven reaching hurricane strength and three evolving into major hurricanes. This year’s heightened activity is attributed to above-normal sea surface temperatures and an active West African monsoon. Scientific consensus suggests that climate change is fueling stronger tropical cyclones—warmer oceans generate more powerful winds, increased atmospheric heat boosts rainfall, and higher sea levels lead to more destructive storm surges. There is also concern that climate change could be contributing to an increase in hurricane frequency.