Typhoon Kalmaegi Devastates Philippines: 26 Dead, Hundreds of Thousands Displaced in Unprecedented Flooding

Philippines:

Devastating floods caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi have claimed at least 26 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands across the central Philippines on Tuesday.

The island of Cebu experienced widespread inundation with videos verified by AFP showing cars, trucks, and even large shipping containers being carried away by raging muddy waters.

Civil defence deputy administrator Rafaelito Alejandro confirmed to AFP that 21 fatalities were reported in Cebu alone, contributing to the overall death toll of 26.

"According to our information, drowning was the primary cause of death," he stated.

State weather specialist Charmagne Varilla told AFP that the area surrounding Cebu City received 183 millimeters of rainfall within 24 hours before Kalmaegi made landfall, significantly exceeding the monthly average of 131 millimeters.

Cebu provincial governor Pamela Baricuatro described the situation as "unprecedented" in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

"We anticipated the winds would pose the greatest danger, but the floodwaters have proven far more devastating and threatening to our citizens," she said.

Cebu City's local disaster official Ethel Minoza informed AFP that rescuers recovered two children's bodies while continuing efforts to reach residents trapped by rising waters.

Other reported casualties included an elderly resident who drowned on an upper floor of their home in Leyte province and a man killed by a falling tree in Bohol.

Don del Rosario, 28, sought safety on an upper floor in Cebu City as the storm intensified.

"The water rose at an alarming rate," he recounted. "By 4:00 am, it was completely unmanageable—people were trapped inside their homes."

"Having lived here for 28 years, this is undoubtedly the worst flooding we've ever experienced."

Scientists attribute the increasing power of storms to human-induced climate change. Warmer oceans facilitate rapid typhoon intensification, while a warmer atmosphere retains more moisture, resulting in heavier rainfall.

Hundreds of people still residing in temporary tent settlements following a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the island in late September were "forcibly evacuated for their safety," according to Cebu information officer Rhon Ramos.

In total, nearly 400,000 individuals were preemptively relocated from the typhoon's projected path, Alejandro stated during a Tuesday news briefing.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine military confirmed that a Super Huey helicopter deployed for relief operations crashed on northern Mindanao island while en route to Butuan city. The Eastern Mindanao Command announced search and recovery operations were underway, though a spokesperson declined to comment on potential survivors.

The typhoon continues its westward trajectory through the Visayan island chain, with winds reaching 130 kilometers (81 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 180 kph, causing trees to fall and power lines to collapse.

The Philippines typically experiences an average of 20 storms and typhoons annually, frequently affecting disaster-prone regions where millions live in poverty.

Weather specialist Varilla noted that with Kalmaegi, the country has already reached this annual average, adding that "three to five more" storms could be expected before the end of December.

In September, the Philippines was struck by two major storms, including Super Typhoon Ragasa, which caused significant structural damage and claimed 14 lives in nearby Taiwan.