Impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines
Typhoon Kalmaegi severely affected the central Philippines on November 4, 2025, causing significant devastation, especially in Cebu City and surrounding areas.
Casualties and Displacement
- At least five fatalities have been confirmed.
- Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced due to the typhoon.
- Significant flooding trapped residents and submerged vehicles, with reports of people stranded on roofs.
Weather Statistics and Forecast
- Cebu City received 183 millimeters of rain, exceeding its monthly average of 131 millimeters.
- Typhoon Kalmaegi is the 20th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines in 2025.
- Moving westward at 25 km/h, it was expected to shift towards the South China Sea.
Warnings and Preparations
- The state weather bureau issued warnings of "life-threatening" conditions and placed parts of the Visayas region under a high-level storm warning.
- Over 150,000 people were evacuated in anticipation of the typhoon's impact.
- Authorities cautioned against torrential rains, destructive winds, and storm surges of up to 3 meters.
Infrastructure and Transport Disruptions
- Interisland ferries and fishing boats were halted, stranding over 3,500 passengers and drivers.
- 186 domestic flights were canceled.
- A province-wide power outage occurred in Southern Leyte.
Historical Context and Challenges
Comparatively, Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 resulted in over 7,300 fatalities or missing persons, highlighting the region's vulnerability to such disasters.
Geological Threats
- Concerns arose regarding potential volcanic mudflows on Mount Kanlaon due to heavy rains.
The Philippines faces about 20 typhoons annually, compounded by frequent earthquakes and active volcanoes, underscoring its status as one of the world's most disaster-prone countries.
