Two dead as Typhoon Kalmaegi brings massive flooding in central Philippines

Rain-soaked residents sought refuge on rooftops, and cars floated through flooded streets as Typhoon Kalmaegi battered central Philippines, killing at least two people, according to the national disaster agency and media reports.

Hundreds of thousands have been displaced by the powerful storm across the Visayas region as well as parts of southern Luzon and northern Mindanao, as Kalmaegi made landfall shortly before midnight.

By noon local time (04: 00 GMT) on Tuesday, Kalmaegi was moving westwards across the islands of Cebu, Negros and Panay with winds of 150km/h (93mph) and gusts of 185km/h, toppling trees and downing power lines.

A video published by DZRH radio’s Facebook page showed homes in Talisay City in Cebu completely submerged, with only rooftops visible.

Similar scenes in other parts of Cebu City, where vehicles and streets were underwater, circulated on social media. In some of the videos, people were heard pleading to be rescued.

A road in the town of Tabuelan, also in Cebu province, was rendered impassable following a landslide.

On the island of Bohol, one person was reported killed after he was pinned down by a fallen tree, according to radio station DYMA.

WATCH: Several individuals called for help at Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City, Cebu on Tuesday morning.

“We cannot cross the roofs”, said uploader Godfrey Senecio.

Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro is now on her way to Talisay to assess the situation.

“It’s the flooding that placed… pic. twitter.com/KLX2Oz5v4n

An elderly person drowned after being trapped in his residence on the island of Leyte, according to radio station DZMM.

State weather agency PAGASA said the combination of Kalmaegi and a shear line had brought heavy rain and strong winds across the Visayas and nearby areas.

” Due to interaction with the terrain, Tino may slightly weaken while crossing Visayas. However, the typhoon intensity will likely persist throughout its course of the nation, according to a morning bulletin from PAGASA.

More than 160 flights to and from the affected regions have been canceled, while those traveling by sea were advised to immediately take the ferry to the closest safe harbor and remain in port.

PAGASA warned of “life-threatening and destructive storm surges” that could reach more than 3-meter (10-foot) height along coastal and low-lying communities in the central Philippines, including parts of Mindanao.

According to the nation’s Office of Civil Defense, roughly 156 000 people were being preemptively evacuated on Monday.

In recent months, the Philippines has experienced a string of disasters, including earthquakes and severe weather events, including an average of 20 tropical storms annually.

At least 10 people were killed when Super Typhoon Ragasa swept through northern Luzon in September, &nbsp, forcing government employees and classes to shut down due to fierce winds and torrential rain.

By December’s end, according to Charmagne Varilla, a state weather service specialist, at least three to five more “storms were anticipated.”