AT least 58 people have died after Typhoon Kalmaegi swept through the central Philippines, continuing to batter parts of Palawan on Wednesday as it moved toward the South China Sea.
Reuters cited on Wednesday that among the fatalities were six military personnel whose helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur on the island of Mindanao during a humanitarian mission.
Scenes of devastation emerged in Cebu, a major tourist hub, as floodwaters receded to reveal destroyed homes, overturned vehicles, and widespread debris. The disaster agency reported 13 people remain missing.
The devastation from Kalmaegi comes just over a month after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Cebu, killing dozens and displacing thousands.
Kalmaegi, which weakened after making landfall early Tuesday, is forecast to regain strength over the South China Sea, the state weather agency PAGASA said in its latest bulletin. The cyclone is expected to make a second landfall in Vietnam on Friday.
More than 200,000 people were evacuated across the Visayas region, including parts of southern Luzon and northern Mindanao, ahead of a storm that submerged homes, caused widespread flooding, and led to power outages.
Packing winds of 120 kph and gusts of up to 165 kph, Kalmaegi is the 20th storm to hit the Philippines this year. Authorities in Vietnam are preparing for its arrival.
In September, Super Typhoon Ragasa swept across northern Luzon, forcing the closure of schools and government offices as it brought fierce winds and torrential rain. - November 5, 2025
