When the weather gods decide to throw a tantrum in the tropics, it’s rarely a mild one. Cyclone Kalmaegi, the latest storm to muscle its way through Southeast Asia, has left a trail of destruction and a fair amount of travel chaos.

As of 4 pm AEST on 5 November, the system has battered the central Philippines with ferocious winds and torrential rain, uprooting trees, flooding towns, and sending thousands fleeing to evacuation centres. Power has been cut in several regions, flights have been cancelled, ferries have docked, and streets have turned into rivers thick with debris.

Authorities report at least 66 deaths, with 26 people still missing. And as if that weren’t grim enough, meteorologists warn the storm is now veering towards Vietnam and Laos, carrying more heavy rain and potential landslides.

DFAT steps in with a warning

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has stepped up its trademark caution on Smartraveller.gov.au, urging Australians in the affected regions to heed local instructions, monitor weather updates, and, should the call come, evacuate without hesitation.

“Severe weather events can disrupt travel and essential services,” DFAT’s advisory notes dryly. In bureaucratic terms, that’s code for: don’t risk it.

For travellers still at home, DFAT’s message is equally clear: Know your insurance, know your rights, and prepare for changes.

The insurance reality check

Travel insurers have long warned that natural disasters aren’t just someone else’s problem; they’re yours too if you buy your policy too late.

Natalie Ball, Director of Compare Travel Insurance, says Cyclone Kalmaegi should serve as a sobering reminder for Australians who treat travel cover as an afterthought.

“Natural disasters can strike without warning,” Ms Ball says. “While it’s always important to take out travel insurance, buying it as soon as you’ve booked your trip gives you the best chance of being protected when the unexpected happens.”

She adds that insurers can provide vital assistance during a crisis, from rebooking disrupted flights to organising emergency evacuation, a lifeline when the airport boards turn crimson with cancellations.

Depending on their provider’s terms, those who purchased policies on or before 4 November 2025 may be covered for trip disruptions, cancellations or accommodation costs linked to the cyclone. But anyone purchasing after that date? Sorry, you’re flying solo. Once a cyclone becomes a “known event,” insurers close their wallets.

Many policies also carry a 72-hour waiting period, so cover for damage or delays within the first three days of purchase won’t apply, another fine-print sting worth noting.

Airlines brace for turbulence.

Airlines across the region are now juggling rebookings like circus performers. Cathay Pacific is among the first to respond, waiving rebooking and rerouting fees for passengers travelling to or from Cebu between 4 and 5 November. The airline will honour those travel changes up to 15 December.

Other carriers are expected to follow with similar gestures, such as fee waivers, flexible credits, and rerouted itineraries, designed to placate stranded customers and prevent call centres from bursting.

For now, passengers are urged to contact their airline or travel provider before filing insurance claims, as most insurers will only consider compensation after travellers have exhausted the airline’s goodwill options.

A practical traveller’s checklist

The golden rule for Australians heading anywhere near the cyclone-affected zone is simple: plan, prepare, and stay informed. DFAT’s Smartraveller portal remains the authoritative source for alerts and updates.

Here’s the expert-endorsed checklist:

• Stay tuned to local authorities and weather advisories.

• Confirm any flight or accommodation changes early.

• Keep receipts and written proof of cancellations or extra costs.

• Read your policy carefully — exclusions hide in small print.

• Contact your insurer before rearranging your itinerary.

Perspective amid the storm

In a year already peppered with earthquakes, floods, and volcanic rumbles across the Asia-Pacific, Cyclone Kalmaegi is another timely reminder that travel, for all its glamour, still bows to nature’s moods.

As Peter Needham might put it, there’s nothing quite like a tropical cyclone to turn a dream holiday into an exercise in crisis management. Still, with vigilance, common sense, and a decent policy tucked in your back pocket, Australians can weather even this storm with dignity and their boarding passes intact.

For the latest updates, visit Smartraveller.gov.au or follow official airline advisories.

By Charmaine Lu – (c) 2025

Read Time: 4 minutes

About the Writer

Charmaine has always had a quiet kind of courage. She grew up in Shanghai, a city that moves at a tempo all its own, and somehow managed to keep her own rhythm studying accounting for the discipline, then the arts for the sheer love of beauty. “I needed both,” she says, “to feel whole.”

When she left China for Sydney in the 1980s, she carried nothing but a degree, a suitcase and a belief that she could start again. The first sea breeze off the harbour felt like permission. She met Stephen, and together they built a family, two children, a home filled with laughter, and a life straddling two cultures without apology.

Work has always been more than a job. Long before search engines became the centre of commerce, Charmaine was quietly helping companies be found and read—not just SEO but stories people wanted to click on. That is still her gift: finding connection in a crowded world.

Her life is less a résumé than a testament to grace under change, the accountant’s discipline, the artist’s eye, and a heart big enough for two continents.

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