Post by : Rameen Ariff

Manila, Philippines — November 6, 2025: Typhoon Kalmaegi has taken a heavy toll across the central Philippines, with officials reporting at least 114 deaths and 127 people unaccounted for, many in Cebu. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday declared a national state of emergency to accelerate relief operations and release emergency funding.

The cyclone moved out of the Philippine archipelago on Wednesday and entered the South China Sea. Nearly two million people were affected and more than 560,000 residents were displaced; about 450,000 were evacuated to emergency shelters, the Office of Civil Defense said.

Most fatalities resulted from flash floods as rivers and waterways overflowed across Cebu province, forcing some residents to climb onto rooftops to escape rising waters. Cebu reported 71 deaths, 65 missing and 69 injured. Authorities in Negros Occidental said 62 people were missing.

Officials said years of inadequate flood-control projects and river blockages from quarrying worsened the impact of the floods. The region was still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake on September 30 that killed at least 79 people and displaced thousands.

Six people were killed when a Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur while delivering humanitarian aid to typhoon-affected provinces. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash.

Transport links have been severely disrupted. Rough seas led to the cancellation of 186 domestic flights, while ferries and small fishing vessels were barred from sailing, stranding more than 3,500 passengers and cargo drivers.

Authorities warned that a separate tropical system forming in the Pacific could intensify into a super typhoon and threaten the northern Philippines early next week, heightening concerns about readiness and response.

The Philippines faces roughly 20 typhoons and storms each year and is also prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity, making it particularly vulnerable to disasters. The government said it is moving to reduce further loss of life and hasten recovery for communities hit by Kalmaegi.

#Global