Typhoon Kalmaegi Slices Through the Philippines and Vietnam, Killing Hundreds

Written by Team Morecast

 

Category Four Typhoon Kalmaegi rolled through the central Philippines, particularly the province of Cebu, on Tuesday into Wednesday. The storm than reintensified as it crossed the South China Sea and pounded central Vietnam Thursday into early Friday. Kalmaegi has claimed a total of 188 lives as of midday Friday in the Philippines alone. Severe flooding and fallen trees account for most of these fatalities.

 

 

 

The typhoon developed last weekend over the open Pacific and intensified quickly as it approached the Philippines. Gusty winds knocked down numerous trees and powerlines but the most devastating impact has been flooding. Rainfall amounts well in excess of 200 mm combined with storm surge have resulted in widespread inundation. At least half of Cebu City, home to nearly a million people, was reportedly under water after the Butuanon River exploded out of its banks. The mayor reported over 200,000 homes damaged there, forcing hundreds of thousands to relocate. The mud-choked floodwaters have left behind masses of debris that will take months to clean up, complicating efforts to locate the 136 still reported missing. Unfortunately another intensifying typhoon will threaten the Philippines early next week, although it is projected to more directly affect the northern islands.

 

 

 

Kalmaegi is one of the strongest cyclones on record to hit Vietnam, boasting 200 kph (125 mph) sustained winds at landfall. The storm prompted evacuation orders for at least 350,000 residents of Gia Lai province alone. Numerous reports of roofs blown off of houses and downed trees and powerlines have been received. The death toll has been limited to five so far in Vietnam. This number may rise as the cyclone winds down and cleanup efforts begin.

Hurricane Melissa Blasts Jamaica, One of the Strongest Atlantic Hurricanes Ever

Written by Team Morecast

 

Category Five Hurricane Melissa ripped through western Jamaica on Tuesday. Landfall occurred around 1 p.m. local time near the town of New Hope after days of rapid intensification. Just before landfall, Melissa’s sustained winds had risen to 185 mph (300 kph), making it one of the strongest hurricanes ever to make landfall in the Atlantic Basin.

 

 

 

Melissa was slow to develop, traversing the Atlantic as a weak disturbance a few weeks ago. As it entered the Caribbean last week, the disturbance slowed to a crawl and began to intensify. Rapid intensification occurred over the weekend and by Monday Melissa was a maximized Category Five on the Saffir-Simpson scale. The storm was so strong in fact that Hurricane Hunter research aircraft were forced to turn away from the eye at one point due to severe turbulence. Conditions rapidly deteriorated on the western side of Jamaica on Tuesday with trees and houses flattened and widespread power outages. The roof came off of a hospital in Black River and the St. Elizabeth Technical High School reported severe damage.

 

 

 

Melissa was close enough to Hispaniola and Jamaica to push torrential rainfall into the islands days ahead of landfall. Rainfall totals have probably approached 2-3 feet (610-915 mm) in some areas, leading to numerous landslides and rivers surging out of their banks. Many communities report being underwater due to the severe fresh water flooding and storm surge. The capital city of Kingston was mostly spared the highest winds and flooding, but communities in the west have been devastated. This is particularly true given the relatively weak infrastructure of poverty-stricken Jamaica. Melissa is now approaching eastern Cuba and will pass through the eastern Bahamas as well before heading into the open Atlantic.

Super Typhoon Ragasa Rips Through Philippine Islands and Taiwan, Currently Lashing Hong Kong

Written by Team Morecast

 

Super Typhoon Ragasa (aka Nando in the Philippines) quickly intensified earlier this week over the western Pacific. By early Monday, it became the strongest cyclone of 2025 anywhere in the world with winds up to 270 kph (168 mph). Ragasa raked northern Luzon and and the adjacent Babuyan Islands in the Philippines that day. Numerous trees and powerlines were downed, plunging nearly a million residents into darkness. Waves up to 3 m (10 feet) were observed along the coast of Cagayan.

 

 

 

Eastern Taiwan was spared the worst of the destructive winds as the typhoon passed well to the south. Unfortunately, very heavy rains did fall in the outer bands. These torrential rains breached the dam holding the Matai’an Creek Barrier Lake, sending floodwaters racing into downstream towns (see video above). At least 14 deaths are blamed on the flash flood with more than a hundred missing.

 

 

The typhoon has weakened only slightly crossing the South China Sea. Landfall will occur later today along the coast of Guangdong province in southern China. Although it’s passing south of Hong Kong, the city is still seeing high winds with a Signal 10 wind warning in effect, the highest level. Major surge flooding is also occurring (see video above). Evacuation orders forced more than 750,000 residents of South China out of their homes.

Torrential Rainfall Leads to Killer Flash Flooding in Indonesia!

Written by Team Morecast

 

A state of emergency has been declared in portions of Indonesia, including the tourist hotspot of Bali, due to major flash flooding. Copious rains have been sweeping the region for the last few days with numerous rivers surging well beyond their normal banks. At least 20 fatalities have been reported in what officials have labeled the worst flooding in at least a decade.

 

 

 

The heavy rains started on Monday and didn’t ease until Wednesday. The weather station in Bali reported 385 mm of rain in only 24 hours at one point. Although the recent rains are falling in the well-recognized rainy season, these prodigious rainfall rates are much heavier than normal. The rising rivers have sparked hundreds of evacuations. Many communities have been cutoff with water over major roads and at least two bridges significantly damaged. Drainage systems already under pressure from the busy tourist activity have been overwhelmed, increasing the risk of a major health crisis due to sewage backup.