MANILA – On Thursday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency after Typhoon Kalmaegi wreaked havoc, resulting in at least 241 casualties, comprising both the deceased and those unaccounted for. This calamity has been marked as the most devastating natural disaster in the country this year.

The typhoon claimed the lives of at least 114 individuals, primarily due to flash floods, while 127 remain missing. The central province of Cebu was particularly affected. After unleashing destruction across the archipelago, impacting close to 2 million residents, the tropical storm exited to the South China Sea on Wednesday. The disaster forced more than 560,000 people to flee their homes, with nearly 450,000 seeking refuge in emergency shelters.

President Marcos’s declaration of emergency followed a meeting with disaster response officials to evaluate the situation post-typhoon. This move is intended to expedite the release of emergency funds and curb practices like food hoarding and price gouging, ensuring aid reaches those in need promptly.