Deaths, Injuries, and Missing Person Due to Typhoon Sweeping the Philippines

SadaNews - Typhoon Kalmaegi, which swept through central Philippines, has left over 90 dead and 26 missing, after causing devastating floods and landslides that isolated hundreds of villages and submerged entire cities, particularly in Cebu province, which is still suffering from the effects of a devastating earthquake that struck it last September.

The Philippine Civil Defense Office reported today, Wednesday, that most of the victims drowned in floodwaters or were killed by landslides and falling debris, while six people died in a helicopter crash belonging to the Air Force that was on a mission to deliver humanitarian aid to the affected areas.

Meteorological experts indicated that the typhoon was accompanied by winds exceeding 130 km/h, with severe storms reaching up to 180 km/h, before heading today towards the South China Sea after crossing Palawan Island.

Before the typhoon's arrival, more than 387,000 people were evacuated from low-lying coastal areas, and authorities announced the suspension of air and sea travel, which left more than 3,500 travelers stranded in the ports.

In Cebu, which has a population of over 2.4 million, water levels rose suddenly, forcing hundreds of families to seek refuge on the roofs of their homes while awaiting rescue teams. The province declared a state of disaster to expedite the release of emergency funds and address the extensive damage to infrastructure and property.

Authorities warned that the flooding has worsened due to the accumulation of silt from quarrying activities and weaknesses in flood control projects, while rescue teams continue their search for the missing and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, neighboring Vietnam is preparing for the arrival of the typhoon in the coming hours, as its authorities declared a state of maximum readiness and initiated widespread evacuation operations along the coasts in anticipation of heavy rain and possible landslides.