Typhoon Kalmaegi has resulted in the deaths of at least 26 individuals in the Philippines, primarily due to flooding triggered by the storm, which swept through the central region of the country on Tuesday, according to disaster response authorities. The floodwaters trapped numerous people on rooftops and submerged vehicles.
Additionally, six individuals lost their lives when a Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed in a separate incident in southern Agusan del Sur province while transporting humanitarian aid to areas affected by Kalmaegi. The bodies of those aboard the Super Huey chopper, which crashed near Loreto town, were recovered following a search, as confirmed by the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command in a statement. The cause of the crash was not immediately provided.
As of the latest observations, Kalmaegi was situated over the coastal waters of Jordan town in Guimaras province with sustained winds of 130 km/h and gusts reaching up to 180 km/h. The typhoon is expected to move towards the South China Sea after impacting Palawan province.
Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, the deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defence, reported that a minimum of 26 fatalities were recorded, with many occurring in Cebu province and other central island provinces hit by Kalmaegi. The specifics of these fatalities are still under verification.
The aftermath of the typhoon led to devastating consequences, including an elderly villager drowning in floodwaters in Southern Leyte and a resident being fatally struck by a fallen tree in central Bohol province. Gwendolyn Pang, the secretary general of the Philippine Red Cross, highlighted the challenges faced in rescuing individuals stranded on rooftops and in flooded areas due to debris and floating vehicles.
The impact of Kalmaegi was particularly felt in Cebu province, which was still recovering from a previous earthquake, compounding the challenges faced by residents. In Eastern Samar, strong winds caused significant damage to around 300 predominantly rural shanties, but fortunately, there were no reported casualties.
The Philippines, known for its vulnerability to natural disasters, experiences a high frequency of typhoons, storms, earthquakes, and volcanic activity annually. The country remains vigilant in disaster preparedness and response efforts to mitigate the impact of such events.
