Devastating Typhoon Strikes Philippines: 46 Dead and Thousands Stranded in Catastrophic Aftermath

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The death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines hit 46 on Tuesday, officials said, including six crew of a military helicopter that crashed during the powerful storm that unleashed heavy rains and floods across the central region.

The Huey helicopter went down in Agusan del Sur on the island of Mindanao, where it was conducting a humanitarian disaster response mission, the military said. Six bodies of the crew were recovered and an investigation was underway.

A tragic incident unfolded just before midday, approximately 270 kilometers from Cebu Island, the area most severely impacted. Local officials reported that 39 individuals either drowned or were killed by falling debris. Additionally, one person was confirmed dead on the neighboring island of Bohol.

Coast Guard rescues residents trapped by floods

Images and footage released by the Philippine Red Cross depict rescue teams navigating through knee-deep floodwaters in Cebu City. Using boats, they worked tirelessly to reach residents stranded by the deluge. These visuals capture the urgency and dedication of the rescue efforts underway.

The storm, known locally as Tino but internationally as Kalmaegi, has been weakening since it made landfall early Tuesday. Despite its reduced intensity, it still battered the region with winds reaching 120 km/h and gusts up to 165 km/h as it passed over the Visayas islands, heading toward northern Palawan and the South China Sea.

The Philippines, which is hit by an average of 20 tropical storms each year, is recovering from a run of disasters, including earthquakes and severe weather events in recent months.

In September, Typhoon Ragasa swept across northern Luzon, forcing schools and government offices to shut down as it brought fierce winds and torrential rain.

By late Tuesday, floodwaters in Cebu City had begun to recede. However, many areas remained without electricity, and telecommunications were sporadic, according to a journalist from Reuters.

Tens of thousands were evacuated across the Visayas region, including parts of southern Luzon and northern Mindanao, ahead of a storm that submerged homes and caused widespread flooding.

Cebu provincial information officer Ainjeliz Orong said the number of casualties in the province had jumped suddenly, from three reported earlier in the day, as rescue operations were underway and information had just started to come through.

The typhoon was projected to exit the Philippines by late Wednesday or early Thursday, bringing some relief to the beleaguered region.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) had previously issued warnings about the high likelihood of “life-threatening and damaging storm surges.” These surges could potentially rise over three meters, posing a significant risk to coastal and low-lying areas in the central Philippines.

Verified videos circulating on social media showed cars and streets underwater, with some vehicles carried away in the flow.

“We were really anxious because the longer the rains continued, the higher the floodwaters rose,” said John Patajo, a housekeeper in the area.

“When the waters rose, we went to our second floor. Yet, the waters kept rising, so we decided to head up to our roof.”

The typhoon was expected to leave the Philippines late on Wednesday or early Thursday.

State weather agency PAGASA had earlier warned of a high risk of “life-threatening and damaging storm surges” that could reach more than 3 metres high on coastal and low-lying communities in the central Philippines.

Vietnam on alert

The Vietnamese government on Tuesday said that it was preparing for the worst-case scenario as it braced for the impact of Kalmaegi.

The typhoon is forecast to make landfall on Thursday night in Vietnam’s central regions, which have already suffered heavy floods that killed at least 40 people and left six others missing over the past week.