At Least 26 Dead as Typhoon Kalmaegi Unleashes Fury on Central Philippines
Typhoon Kalmaegi has left a trail of destruction in its wake, claiming at least 26 lives as it tore through the central Philippines. The powerful storm made landfall in the early hours of Monday morning, bringing with it Category 3 winds that reached speeds of up to 93mph.
The full force of the typhoon was felt across the Visayas island group, where hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes as flooding and landslides rendered many areas inaccessible. In Cebu province alone, at least 21 deaths were reported, with multiple towns completely submerged under water.
Residents in Talisay City, Cebu, found themselves stranded on rooftops as their homes were inundated by floodwaters, while cars were seen floating through the streets like boats. Social media was flooded with images of people desperately calling for help, pleading to be rescued from the rising waters.
The Philippine military scrambled to respond to the disaster, but one of its helicopters crashed in northern Mindanao while en route to assist relief efforts. Search and rescue operations are currently underway.
According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), most of the victims died as a result of drowning. The storm also brought widespread damage, with roads rendered impassable by landslides and trees toppled by strong winds.
As Kalmaegi continued to batter the islands, state weather agency PAGASA warned of a high risk of "life-threatening and damaging storm surges" that could reach over 10 feet in height along coastal communities. Over 160 flights were cancelled, while those at sea were advised to head to the nearest safe harbour immediately.
The Philippines has been hit by an average of 20 tropical storms each year, with recent months seeing a run of disasters including earthquakes and severe weather events. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more frequent and more powerful due to human-driven climate change.
With Kalmaegi expected to weaken slightly as it crosses the country, officials are urging caution and warning residents to remain vigilant.
Typhoon Kalmaegi has left a trail of destruction in its wake, claiming at least 26 lives as it tore through the central Philippines. The powerful storm made landfall in the early hours of Monday morning, bringing with it Category 3 winds that reached speeds of up to 93mph.
The full force of the typhoon was felt across the Visayas island group, where hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes as flooding and landslides rendered many areas inaccessible. In Cebu province alone, at least 21 deaths were reported, with multiple towns completely submerged under water.
Residents in Talisay City, Cebu, found themselves stranded on rooftops as their homes were inundated by floodwaters, while cars were seen floating through the streets like boats. Social media was flooded with images of people desperately calling for help, pleading to be rescued from the rising waters.
The Philippine military scrambled to respond to the disaster, but one of its helicopters crashed in northern Mindanao while en route to assist relief efforts. Search and rescue operations are currently underway.
According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), most of the victims died as a result of drowning. The storm also brought widespread damage, with roads rendered impassable by landslides and trees toppled by strong winds.
As Kalmaegi continued to batter the islands, state weather agency PAGASA warned of a high risk of "life-threatening and damaging storm surges" that could reach over 10 feet in height along coastal communities. Over 160 flights were cancelled, while those at sea were advised to head to the nearest safe harbour immediately.
The Philippines has been hit by an average of 20 tropical storms each year, with recent months seeing a run of disasters including earthquakes and severe weather events. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more frequent and more powerful due to human-driven climate change.
With Kalmaegi expected to weaken slightly as it crosses the country, officials are urging caution and warning residents to remain vigilant.
. 26 lives lost is just crazy, my thoughts go out to all those affected by this typhoon 
. It's like, one minute everything's fine, next minute your home's underwater and you're stuck on a rooftop 
. I'm sure the gov't is doing their best to help with search & rescue ops 
, but it's just so overwhelming. We need to support each other during times like this 
. Climate change is making these events more frequent & intense, we gotta stay vigilant and take care of our planet 
.
. It's like we're just waiting for disaster to strike so we can finally do something about it... well, it's time to take action before it's too late 
.
I mean, 26 people dead already? And it's still going on ? 
The Philippines takes a lot of hits from typhoons every year but this one sounds insane. Category 3 winds? That's like, next level stuff. And the flooding and landslides are just horrific. Stranded on rooftops with floodwaters rising all around you... that's not something anyone should have to go through. 
Full storm mode incoming... 
. And now the military's helicopter crashes and whatnot... that's just on another level 
.
i feel so bad for all those people who had to flee their homes & stranded on rooftops 
i know we can't control the weather, but come on scientists gotta step up & find ways 2 mitigate these disasters 
and btw 160 flights cancelled? what a mess 
. Maybe we can learn from each other, share some ideas on how to make a difference... I've been doing my part by reducing my waste and using eco-friendly products at home 
cant they just send help faster?