Death Toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi Rises to Four in the Philippines

Post by : Sameer Saifi

The death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi has risen to four as the storm brought strong winds, heavy rains, and widespread flooding across the central Philippines. Thousands of people were forced to leave their homes, and many areas remain underwater after the typhoon made landfall early Tuesday morning.

Kalmaegi, known locally as Tino, hit the Visayas islands and northern Palawan with winds reaching 130 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 180 kilometers per hour. Although the storm weakened slightly after landfall, it continued to cause serious damage as it moved toward the South China Sea.

According to local disaster officials, three people died and one person went missing in the province of Cebu. Two more deaths are being verified. “We weren’t expecting this much flooding,” said Ainjeliz Orong, a Cebu provincial official. In nearby Bohol province, one person was killed when a tree fell during the storm, said disaster officer Anthony Damalerio.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that tens of thousands of residents were evacuated from several provinces, including areas of southern Luzon and northern Mindanao. Emergency teams worked day and night to rescue stranded families and provide shelter for those affected.

Photos and videos shared by the Philippine Red Cross showed rescue workers wading through deep water in Cebu City. In Liloan town, floodwaters reached rooftops, leaving many homes completely submerged. Streets and vehicles across Cebu were covered in water, and the situation worsened as rains continued.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that Kalmaegi, combined with a weather system known as a shear line, was responsible for the intense rainfall. PAGASA also warned coastal residents of storm surges that could reach over three meters high, posing a serious threat to people living in low-lying communities.

More than 180 flights to and from affected regions were canceled due to dangerous weather conditions. Fishermen and vessels at sea were advised to return to shore immediately to avoid strong waves and winds.

The government has opened evacuation centers and continues to provide food, water, and medical supplies to those displaced by the storm. However, communication and power lines remain disrupted in many areas, making rescue operations more difficult.

The impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi has also reached neighboring Vietnam. Vietnamese authorities said they are preparing for the storm’s arrival later this week. The government in Hanoi warned that the typhoon could make landfall on Thursday night in central Vietnam, where floods have already killed 40 people and left several missing in recent days.

“This is a very strong typhoon which continues to gain strength after entering the East Sea,” said Vietnam’s government in a public statement.

The Philippines faces about 20 tropical storms every year, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. Kalmaegi comes just weeks after Super Typhoon Ragasa swept across northern Luzon in September, causing massive power outages, heavy flooding, and forcing schools and government offices to close.

Local authorities are urging residents to stay alert and follow official safety instructions as the country braces for more storms this season. Weather experts say that rising sea temperatures caused by climate change may make future typhoons stronger and more unpredictable.

For now, rescue teams continue their efforts to reach isolated areas, while the nation mourns the lives lost and hopes for calmer weather in the coming days.

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