Typhoon Kalmaegi kills at least 66 in Philippines
The Philippines has been hit hard by Typhoon Kalmaegi (locally known as “Tino”), with the death toll rising to at least 66 people, as the country struggles to recover and respond to the damage.
Much of the devastation occurred in the central province of Cebu, where floodwaters and landslides swept through urban areas and rural communities alike. Officials say 49 of the fatalities were in Cebu.
The storm brought torrential rainfall and strong winds as it made landfall, submerging homes, overturning vehicles, and leaving vast amounts of debris in its wake. In many affected areas, residents were trapped on rooftops while waiting for rescue.
In addition to the flooding, a tragic crash of a military helicopter in the province of Agusan del Sur on Mindanao claimed six lives. The aircraft was on a humanitarian mission in response to the unfolding disaster.
Authorities say that around 26 people remain missing as rescue and relief operations continue. The number of displaced persons is also substantial hundreds of thousands of residents were evacuated in advance of the storm’s passage to safer areas.
The storm is also still making its way across the South China Sea, so it is possible further impacts will be felt in neighbouring regions. Local officials have declared a state of calamity in some of the hardest-hit provinces to allow faster deployment of emergency funds and support.
