Manila: Typhoon Kalmaegi, known locally as Tino, swept through the central Philippines on Monday, bringing strong winds, heavy rains, and widespread flooding. The powerful storm has already claimed one life and forced more than 150,000 people to flee their homes as authorities issued urgent warnings of life-threatening conditions.

According to the state weather bureau PAGASA, Kalmaegi made landfall in the early hours over the town of Silago in Southern Leyte with maximum sustained winds of about 150 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching up to 205 kilometers per hour. The storm later moved across Negros Occidental, leaving many areas without power and submerging several low-lying communities.

Local officials reported that an elderly villager drowned in floodwaters in Eastern Visayas, while rescue teams were deployed to reach stranded families in remote areas. Classes and government work have been suspended in many provinces, and all sea travel was halted as rough waves and storm surges of up to three meters battered coastal regions.

Transportation across the country has also been disrupted. Several flights and ferry services were canceled as precautionary measures, and ports were temporarily closed. Authorities have opened hundreds of evacuation centers to accommodate displaced residents, particularly in Samar, Leyte, and Negros Island.

Weather experts warned that the heavy rainfall could trigger landslides and mudflows, especially near Kanlaon Volcano, where recent volcanic activity has made the ground unstable. The typhoon is expected to weaken slightly as it crosses the central Philippines but may regain strength once it moves into the South China Sea by Tuesday night.

PAGASA cautioned that despite the storm’s gradual movement, the threat of flooding and landslides remains high. Local governments have been urged to maintain close coordination with disaster response agencies as recovery and relief operations continue.

After crossing the Philippines, Kalmaegi is expected to move westward toward Vietnam later this week, raising concerns of additional damage in areas already struggling with severe floods.

The Philippines, which faces an average of 20 tropical cyclones each year, is once again reminded of its vulnerability to extreme weather events that continue to intensify across the region.