The Death Toll from the Typhoon in the Philippines Rises to More Than 140

SadaNews - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency in the country on Thursday after Typhoon "Kalmaigi" left over 140 dead and dozens missing in the central provinces, marking the worst natural disaster to hit the Philippines this year.

Philippine authorities reported that the typhoon caused the deaths of 114 people, most of whom drowned in sudden floods, while 127 others remain missing, the majority in the hardest-hit Cebu province.

Regional authorities in Cebu noted an additional 28 deaths that have not yet been included in the official toll.

The government indicated that the typhoon affected approximately two million people, causing the displacement of over 560,000 citizens, including 450,000 who were evacuated to emergency shelters.

Entire towns were submerged, forcing residents to flee to the rooftops of their homes to escape the floods that swept away cars, trucks, and even large shipping containers.

The emergency declaration came during an assessment meeting held by President Marcos with disaster management officials, clarifying that the decision aims to expedite the disbursement of emergency funds and avoid the hoarding of food supplies and rising prices.

Typhoon "Kalmaigi" struck the Philippines late on Monday when it reached the Dinagat Islands, before heading west toward the South China Sea en route to Vietnam, which is expected to be reached later this evening.

The Philippines is hit by about 20 typhoons and storms annually, often suffering the greatest losses in its poorest regions due to these natural disasters.