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At least 114 people have died and 127 remain missing in the Philippines following Typhoon Kalmaegi, officials confirmed Thursday, as the powerful storm regains intensity while crossing the South China Sea toward Vietnam.
In Cebu province, one of the hardest-hit areas, entire neighborhoods were left unrecognizable. When the floodwaters finally subsided, they revealed shattered houses, upturned cars, and streets piled high with debris. More than 200,000 residents had been evacuated before the storm struck on Tuesday, but many returned to find their homes destroyed. Others began the difficult process of clearing mud and wreckage.
“The urgent task now is clearing debris,” said Raffy Alejandro, a senior civil defense official. “We need to open access for relief operations and continue the search for those still missing.”
Kalmaegi, known locally as Tino, was the 20th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year. Its arrival compounded a string of recent disasters, including a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu last month, leaving dozens dead and thousands displaced.
As Kalmaegi moved westward over the South China Sea, it began to rebuild strength. Vietnam’s central provinces are bracing for landfall, with authorities ordering mass evacuations, around 350,000 people in Gia Lai province alone were expected to relocate by midday Thursday. Officials warned that torrential rain and strong winds could trigger flash floods and damage crops, especially in key coffee-producing regions where harvest season is underway.
Vietnam’s defense forces have been placed on alert, preparing troops for emergency rescues and cleanup operations. The country’s aviation authority said up to eight airports, including Da Nang International, may face temporary closures or flight disruptions as the storm approaches.
Meanwhile, Philippine weather agencies are monitoring another developing weather system east of Mindanao, which could intensify into a new typhoon early next week, raising fresh concerns for a region still reeling from Kalmaegi’s destruction.
With information from Reuters.
