Powerful Typhoon Kalmaegi Hits Northern Philippines

World | Agence France-Presse | Updated: September 14, 2014 20:51 IST

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This September 13, 2014 NASA satellite image shows Tropical Storm Kalmaegi approaching the Philippines. (Agence France-Presse photo)

MANILA:  Typhoon Kalmaegi slammed into the northern Philippines on Sunday, causing flash floods and widespread heavy rains as communities braced for landslides and possible storm surges.

The typhoon, packing winds of 160 kilometres (100 miles) per hour, struck the town of Divilacan on the northeastern coast around sundown and moved westward across the main island of Luzon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

"There has been flooding on the (island) of Mindoro," located south of the area passed over by the typhoon, council spokeswoman Mina Marasigan said.

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Although the storm is only directly affecting the northern provinces, it is reinforcing monsoon rains elsewhere in the country. 

A ferry carrying more than 100 people hit by huge waves in the archipelago's central waters sank late Saturday as the typhoon approached, killing three and leaving three missing.

There had been no reports of casualties since the typhoon made landfall, Marasigan said, though sea travel in typhoon-affected areas and even airline flights were cancelled as precautionary measures as Kalmagei approached.

Civil defence officials had previously ordered pre-emptive evacuations in at least three towns in the typhoon's path with residents in coastal areas warned of possible storm surges two metres (6.5 feet) tall.