Typhoon Kalmaegi: 66 Dead as Widespread Flooding Hits the Philippines

Post by : Raina Nasser

Sixty-six people have died after Typhoon Kalmaegi unleashed severe flooding and destruction across parts of the Philippines, officials reported, with Cebu province among the hardest hit where authorities have confirmed 49 fatalities and numerous individuals remain unaccounted for.

Disaster response teams described floodwaters sweeping through densely populated districts as "unprecedented," inundating houses, overturning vehicles and displacing large shipping containers. Efforts are focused on removing debris and reopening major transport routes blocked by flood damage.

Rafaelito Alejandro, a senior civil defence official, said heavily urbanised areas bore the brunt of the flooding. He added that although waters have begun to fall, restoring safe passage and clearing rubble are the immediate priorities for responders.

Residents in Cebu recounted scenes of destruction as they returned to salvage what they could. Shop owner Reynaldo Vergara, 53, said his entire stock was washed away after a sudden surge from the nearby river in the early hours of the morning — a level of flooding he said he had never experienced.

In the 24 hours before Kalmaegi’s landfall, locations around Cebu City recorded about 183 millimetres of rain — well above the typical monthly total of 131 mm. Provincial Governor Pamela Baricuatro characterised the deluge as unprecedented, noting preparations had focused on wind impacts but the extreme rainfall caused the most damage.

Baricuatro emphasised that while strong winds were anticipated, it was the intensity of the rains that posed the greater threat to communities and infrastructure.

Authorities said nearly 400,000 people were evacuated from high-risk zones before the storm struck. Despite pre-emptive moves, many areas remain affected by destroyed homes, power outages and possible water contamination.

Separately, a Philippine Air Force helicopter assisting relief missions crashed in northern Mindanao while en route to Butuan. Officials confirmed six service members — two pilots and four crew — were killed. Recovery and identification work is ongoing.

As of Wednesday morning, meteorological reports placed Kalmaegi moving west toward Palawan, with sustained winds near 120 kilometres per hour and gusts up to 165 kph.

The Philippines, which typically records about 20 tropical storms and typhoons annually, has now faced Kalmaegi as its 20th storm this year. Forecasters warn several more systems could form before year-end.

Climate experts say warming ocean temperatures and a moister atmosphere are helping storms intensify more rapidly and produce heavier rainfall, a factor cited in the severe flooding experienced in Cebu.

Officials continue to call for vigilance as the storm moves west, while relief agencies and local authorities coordinate to support thousands of displaced residents and restore essential services in the affected provinces.