Palawan braced for impact as Typhoon Kalmaegi, known locally as Tino, unleashed ferocious winds, prompting the highest level of storm warning – Signal No. 4 – across its northern reaches. The state weather bureau confirmed the typhoon remained a formidable force despite making multiple landfalls, threatening life-threatening conditions for those in its path.
As of this morning, Kalmaegi churned over the coastal waters of El Nido, Palawan, sustaining winds of 120 kilometers per hour with gusts reaching a staggering 165 kph. The storm relentlessly tracked west northwestward at 25 kph, intensifying the anxiety for communities directly in its projected path.
The northernmost sections of Palawan – El Nido, Taytay, Araceli, and the Calamian Islands – were under the most severe threat, facing winds capable of causing catastrophic damage. Signal No. 3 extended the warning to include Dumaran, San Vicente, Roxas, and the Cuyo Islands, indicating a high risk of significant damage and disruption.
Further warnings were issued for surrounding areas, with Signal No. 2 affecting the southern portion of Occidental Mindoro and Puerto Princesa City, while Signal No. 1 covered the remaining regions of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Palawan. Each signal level represented a decreasing, yet still present, danger to life and property.
Beyond the immediate threat of wind, coastal communities faced the terrifying prospect of storm surges. Warnings were specifically issued for low-lying areas of El Nido, Bacuit, San Vicente, and Taytay, where waves exceeding three meters were predicted to inundate the shoreline.
Authorities urgently advised the complete cancellation of all marine activities and issued immediate evacuation orders for vulnerable residents. The message was clear: time was of the essence, and proactive measures were crucial to safeguarding lives.
Even as Kalmaegi battered Palawan, another potential threat loomed on the horizon. A tropical depression, currently situated far east of the Philippines, showed signs of rapid intensification.
This developing system, packing winds of 55 kph and gusts up to 70 kph, was moving west-southwestward at 25 kph, and is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday evening or Saturday morning. It will then be named Uwan, marking the 21st tropical cyclone to impact the country this year.
While the future track of this new storm remains uncertain, the weather bureau emphasized the need for constant vigilance. Forecasts are subject to change, and continued monitoring is essential as the system draws closer to the Philippines.
