Residents walk along debris along a shoreline after Typhoon Kalmaegi caused devastation in communities at Talisay City, Cebu province, central Philippines. (AP Photo)
Philippines Typhoon Kalmaegi Live Updates: Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has declared a state of emergency following Typhoon Kalmaegi, which has left at least 241 people dead or missing, according to the Associated Press (AP), making it the country’s deadliest disaster this year. The storm caused severe flooding and landslides across central provinces. Nearly 20 lakh people were affected, and more than 5,60,000 villagers were displaced, including 4,50,000 who sought refuge in emergency shelters, AP reported.
Recovery efforts: Marcos said the emergency declaration would allow a faster release of disaster funds and help curb food hoarding and price surges as recovery operations begin. As floodwaters receded in Cebu, the scale of destruction became clear: flattened homes, overturned vehicles and streets buried in mud and debris. Authorities said clearing operations are critical to finding the 127 missing people and enabling relief supplies to reach isolated communities. “The challenge now is debris clearing… These need to be cleared immediately,” said Raffy Alejandro, a senior civil defence official, Reuters reported.
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More storms? Meanwhile, forecasters are tracking another developing storm east of Mindanao, which could strengthen into a typhoon early next week, according to Reuters. In Vietnam, where Kalmaegi is regaining strength over the South China Sea, authorities have begun mass evacuations in several provinces and warned of heavy rains and flooding in low-lying and coffee-growing regions.
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