Typhoon Kalmaegi leaves 52 dead, mainly in Philippine province still recovering from deadly quake

Typhoon Kalmaegi has wreaked havoc across the central Philippines, leaving at least 52 people dead and 13 others missing, officials reported on Wednesday. The majority of casualties occurred due to widespread flooding that trapped residents on their rooftops and swept away numerous vehicles. The hardest-hit areas include provinces still grappling with the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, compounding the region’s ongoing recovery challenges. The central province of Cebu bore the brunt of the storm’s impact, where swollen rivers and flash floods inundated residential communities, forcing many to seek refuge atop their homes in desperate calls for rescue. Adding to the tragedy, six people lost their lives in a Philippine air force helicopter crash in the southern province of Agusan del Sur. The chopper was en route to deliver humanitarian aid to typhoon-affected areas when the accident occurred. Military officials have yet to release details surrounding the cause of the crash. Meanwhile, Typhoon Kalmaegi was last tracked early Wednesday near Linapacan, a coastal area in Palawan province, with sustained winds reaching 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph) and gusts up to 150 kph (93 mph). Forecasts predicted that the storm would dissipate into the South China Sea later in the day. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, alongside local officials, confirmed that most of the fatalities were reported in Cebu. The typhoon struck the province on Tuesday, triggering flash floods and causing rivers and waterways to overflow. Floodwaters engulfed many neighborhoods, leaving residents stranded on rooftops, pleading for help. The Philippine Red Cross received a surge of emergency calls, but rescue operations were hampered by the dangerous flood conditions, forcing responders to wait until waters receded. Cebu, home to over 2.4 million people, declared a state of calamity to expedite the release of emergency funds for disaster response and recovery efforts. This calamity hit the province just days after a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck on September 30, which had already claimed at least 79 lives and displaced thousands due to collapsed or damaged homes. Disaster officials noted that hundreds of residents displaced by the quake had been relocated from fragile tents to sturdier evacuation shelters in preparation for the typhoon. Elsewhere, fatalities were also reported in Southern Leyte and Bohol provinces. In Southern Leyte, an elderly man drowned in floodwaters after Kalmaegi made landfall on the Pacific-facing eastern towns. Another person died in central Bohol after being struck by a fallen tree. Prior to the typhoon's arrival, authorities evacuated over 387,000 people from vulnerable areas across eastern and central Philippines. Warnings were issued concerning heavy rains, destructive winds, and storm surges reaching nearly 10 feet. The government also suspended interisland ferry services and fishing operations due to rough seas, stranding more than 3,500 passengers and cargo drivers at around 100 seaports. Additionally, at least 186 domestic flights were canceled. The Philippines faces about 20 typhoons annually and regularly contends with earthquakes and volcanic activity, making it one of the world's most disaster-prone nations. The recurring natural calamities continue to test the resilience and preparedness of communities and authorities alike.