Typhoon Kalmaegi has caused the loss of at least 26 lives in the Philippines, primarily due to flooding triggered by the storm’s passage through the central region of the country on Tuesday, according to disaster response authorities. Floodwaters have trapped numerous individuals on rooftops and engulfed vehicles.
Additionally, six fatalities occurred when a Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed in southern Agusan del Sur province while delivering humanitarian aid to areas affected by Kalmaegi. The military’s Eastern Mindanao Command confirmed that all individuals aboard the Super Huey chopper, which went down near Loreto town, were found deceased after a search operation. Details regarding the crash cause were not immediately provided.
As of the latest observation, Kalmaegi was located over the coastal waters of Jordan town in Guimaras province, boasting sustained winds of 130 km/h and gusts reaching up to 180 km/h. The typhoon was anticipated to move towards the South China Sea by late Tuesday or early Wednesday after impacting Palawan province in the west.
Deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defence, Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, stated that a minimum of 26 fatalities had been recorded, with many occurring in Cebu province and other central islands hit by Kalmaegi. Specifics on the casualties were still under verification. Among the deceased were an elderly resident who drowned in Southern Leyte’s floodwaters and an individual in central Bohol province struck by a fallen tree.
Gwendolyn Pang, the secretary general of the Philippine Red Cross, reported residents trapped on rooftops by floodwaters in Liloan town, Cebu, with submerged cars in another community. Pang highlighted the challenges faced in rescue efforts due to debris and high water levels. The region was still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in September, which claimed numerous lives and displaced many individuals.
In Eastern Samar, where Kalmaegi initially made landfall on Tuesday, strong winds caused roof damage to around 300 predominantly rural shanties on Homonhon island, part of Guiuan town. Despite property destruction, there were no casualties reported, according to Mayor Annaliza Gonzales Kwan. The community, having experienced past calamities, remained resilient in the face of the recent storm.
The Philippines, known for its vulnerability to natural disasters, faces approximately 20 typhoons and storms annually, alongside seismic activity and numerous active volcanoes. The nation has a history of coping with catastrophic events, such as Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which caused extensive devastation and loss of life in the central region.
Overall, the impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi underscores the ongoing challenges posed by natural disasters in the Philippines, emphasizing the need for robust disaster preparedness and response measures.
