Typhoon Kalmaegi Floods Central Philippines, Stranding Residents on Rooftops; At Least Two Dead

Typhoon Kalmaegi battered the central Philippines after making landfall just before midnight, forcing residents onto rooftops and flooding streets as vehicles floated away. The powerful storm has displaced hundreds of thousands and left at least two people dead.

As of 8:00 a.m. (0000 GMT) Tuesday, Kalmaegi was moving west across the islands of Cebu and Negros, bringing sustained winds of about 150 km/h (93 mph) and gusts up to 185 km/h (115 mph). High winds toppled trees and downed power lines, while intense rainfall produced rapid, often uncontrollable flooding.

Local authorities said roughly 387,000 people had been evacuated from the storm's projected path. Many residents sought refuge on upper floors and rooftops; some evacuation centres and tent camps that still sheltered survivors of a late-September 6.9-magnitude earthquake were themselves inundated and had to be emptied for safety.

'People marooned on rooftops are asking to be rescued,' Cebu information officer Rhon Ramos told AFP, describing scenes of frantic evacuations as floodwaters rose quickly through the night.

Officials reported two fatalities: a man in Bohol province killed by a falling tree, and an elderly person in southern Leyte who drowned after becoming trapped on an upper floor and unable to get assistance. Search-and-rescue teams and emergency personnel continued operations in affected areas.

State weather specialist Charmagne Varilla said the Philippines, which averages about 20 storms per year, has already reached that average with Kalmaegi and could face 'three to five more' storms before the end of December. Scientists warn that human-driven climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of severe tropical cyclones, while La Niña conditions can also raise cyclone activity.

Local impact and response

Residents recounted harrowing nights. In the Dinagat Islands, where Kalmaegi first made landfall, 34-year-old Miriam Vargas said she sat with her children in the dark, praying as powerful winds battered their home and the electricity failed. On nearby Leyte Island, officials reported ongoing evacuations in towns that were among the worst hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

Authorities and aid groups are assessing damage, clearing blocked roads and restoring services where possible. Relief efforts focus on temporary shelter, food, medical care and restoring communications for thousands of displaced families who have already faced earthquakes and earlier storms this season.

Reporting compiled from AFP updates.