Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
Manila, Philippines – November 6, 2025: The Philippines is reeling after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which has claimed at least 114 lives and left 127 people unaccounted for across central provinces, with Cebu among the worst affected. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national emergency on Thursday to accelerate relief operations and release emergency funds.
The storm moved out of the Philippine archipelago on Wednesday into the South China Sea, impacting nearly 2 million people and displacing more than 560,000 residents. The Office of Civil Defense reported that close to 450,000 evacuees were housed in emergency shelters.
Most fatalities resulted from sudden flash floods after rivers and waterways overflowed in Cebu province, forcing residents to seek higher ground and, in many cases, climb onto rooftops to escape rising waters. Cebu recorded 71 deaths, 65 people missing and 69 injured. Nearby Negros Occidental reported 62 residents missing.
Officials said years of inadequate flood-control projects and river blockages caused by quarrying worsened the flash flooding. Cebu is also still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake on September 30 that killed at least 79 people and displaced thousands.
In a further blow, a Philippine Air Force helicopter delivering humanitarian aid to typhoon-affected provinces crashed in Agusan del Sur, killing six people. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the crash.
Transportation networks were severely affected: rough seas led to the cancellation of 186 domestic flights, and ferries and small fishing vessels were ordered to remain in port, leaving more than 3,500 passengers and cargo drivers stranded.
Officials warned that another tropical system forming in the Pacific could intensify into a super typhoon and threaten the northern Philippines early next week, heightening concerns about preparedness and response capacity.
The Philippines faces about 20 typhoons and storms each year and is frequently affected by earthquakes and volcanic activity, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. The government says it is mobilising resources to limit further loss of life and hasten recovery for communities hit by Kalmaegi.
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