BANGKOK, Thailand – At least 66 people have been killed after Typhoon Kalmaegi tore through the central Philippines, leaving a trail of devastation before moving out into the South China Sea on Wednesday (Nov 5). The powerful storm continues to lash parts of Palawan as it gathers strength on its path toward Vietnam.
Among the casualties were six soldiers who died in a helicopter crash in Agusan del Sur, Mindanao, during a humanitarian mission.
In Cebu Province, one of the country’s major tourist hubs, receding floodwaters have revealed scenes of destruction—flattened homes, overturned vehicles, and widespread debris. Disaster officials reported 26 people missing and 10 injured as search and rescue efforts continue.
Known locally as “Tino,” Typhoon Kalmaegi struck barely a month after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit northern Cebu, killing dozens and displacing thousands.
Although the typhoon weakened after making landfall on Tuesday morning (Nov 4), the Philippine weather bureau PAGASA said it is expected to regain strength while moving over the South China Sea.
Authorities evacuated more than 200,000 residents from the Visayas region, as well as parts of southern Luzon and northern Mindanao, ahead of the storm. The powerful winds and torrential rain caused widespread flooding and power outages across several provinces.
Kalmaegi, the 20th storm to hit the Philippines this year, packed sustained winds of 120 km/h and gusts reaching 165 km/h. The storm is now on course to strike central Vietnam by Friday (Nov 7), where officials are preparing emergency measures for possible landfall.
In September, Super Typhoon Ragasas battered northern Luzon, forcing schools and government offices to close, bringing fierce winds and torrential rains that compounded the country’s ongoing recovery challenges.
