Philippines evacuates thousands as Typhoon Kalmaegi nears with 150kph winds

MANILA, Nov 3 — Thousands of people were evacuated in coastal provinces of the Philippines today ahead of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which is expected to make landfall in a region previously devastated by some of the country’s deadliest storms.

Kalmaegi is heading toward Leyte island with winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour and gusts reaching 150 kilometres per hour, the national weather service said.

“Evacuations are ongoing in Palo and Tanauan,” Leyte disaster official Roel Montesa said, referring to two towns that suffered heavy losses in 2013 when Super Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people.

Thousands more residents have also been moved from neighbouring Samar island, where three-metre surges are forecast, civil defence official Randy Nicart said.

“Some local governments are resorting to forced evacuations, including Guiuan town, where the storm is likely to make landfall,” he added.

Dinagat Islands governor Nilo Demerey said between 10,000 and 15,000 people had been pre-emptively relocated to safer areas over the past two days, while residents of Loreto town were told to move to higher ground.

With Kalmaegi, the Philippines has already reached its annual average of 20 storms, and “three to five more” could hit before the end of December, weather service specialist Charmaine Varilla said, noting that stronger storms are linked to climate change and La Niña conditions. — AFP

[Source: Malay Mail]