After massive destruction caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday declared a state of emergency. It had left at least 241 people dead or missing in the country’s central regions. It is the deadliest natural disaster to hit the Philippines this year.
Officials said at least 114 people were confirmed dead, most of them due to drowning in flash floods, while 127 others are still missing, many from the worst-hit Cebu province.
The powerful typhoon affected nearly two million people and forced more than 5.6 lakh residents to flee their homes. Around 4.5 lakh people are now taking shelter in evacuation centres.
According to the Office of Civil Defence, most of the deaths were reported in Cebu province, which was hit hardest by the typhoon. Kalmaegi struck the region on Tuesday (November 4), triggering flash floods and causing rivers to overflow. At least 49 people drowned in Cebu, while others were killed in landslides and by falling debris. 13 people are missing in the province.
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Officials said another 62 people were reported missing in the nearby provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. The Philippine Red Cross said it received multiple calls from residents trapped on rooftops in Cebu, pleading for rescue as floodwaters rose rapidly.
As per reports, Kalmaegi moved out of the western Palawan province and into the South China Sea by Wednesday (November 5), heading toward Vietnam. Forecasters said central Vietnam, already suffering from heavy rain and landslides, is preparing for more severe weather as the storm approaches.