1 dead, 2 missing as Typhoon Megi crosses into the Philippines

October 18, 2010
By the CNN Wire Staff

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: An official says a fisherman drowned in huge waves
• Typhoon Megi is the strongest storm since 2005
• Parts of the Philippines could get 300 to 500 millimeters (11 to 20 inches) of rain
• Megi, also known as Juan, carries maximum sustained winds of 190 kph (118 mph)

(CNN) -- A fisherman is dead and two others were missing Monday as Typhoon Megi wreaked havoc in the Philippines.

The Philippines' civil defence chief said a fisherman drowned in huge waves from Megi, which made landfall Monday on the northern Philippine island of Luzon.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard said two people were reported missing.

Megi, also known as Typhoon Juan, has battered Luzon with torrential rain. It made landfall near Sierra Madre, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration.

About 3 p.m. (3 a.m. ET), the storm was about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south-southwest of Tuguegarao City and had maximum sustained winds of about 190 kph (118 mph), with gusts of up to 225 kph (140 mph).

When Megi made landfall around 11:35 a.m. Monday, it had maximum sustained winds of about 225 kph (140 mph) and gusts of up to 260 kph (162 mph).

CNN meteorologist Ivan Cabrera said the typhoon is the strongest storm on the planet since 2005, when Hurricane Wilma passed over south Florida in the United States. Megi is also the strongest storm in the Pacific Ocean since Typhoon Flo in 1990.

"Unfortunately, this is a part of the world where the infrastructure is quite fragile, the power grid is quite fragile and a lot of people live in quite basic houses," James Reynolds, a storm chaser who is on Luzon, told CNN Monday.

Trees swayed and relentless rains inundated roads. Cabrera said parts of the Philippines could see 300 to 500 millimeters (11 to 20 inches) of rain.

The typhoon could damage large amounts of agricultural land along its path.

"Thousands of hectares are in danger of being ruined," Cabrera said.