At least 26 individuals have lost their lives in the Philippines due to Typhoon Kalmaegi, predominantly as a result of flooding triggered by the storm’s passage through the central region of the country on Tuesday, according to disaster response authorities.
The torrential waters left numerous people stranded on their rooftops and submerged vehicles.
An additional six casualties occurred when a Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed in a separate incident in southern Agusan del Sur province while carrying out humanitarian aid deliveries to areas affected by Kalmaegi.
The bodies of all those on board the Super Huey chopper that went down near Loreto town were retrieved following a search, as stated by the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command in a release that did not disclose further specifics, including the cause of the crash.
Kalmaegi was last observed above the coastal waters of Jordan town in the central Guimaras province, boasting sustained winds of 130 km/h with gusts reaching up to 180 km/h. The typhoon was anticipated to move towards the South China Sea by late Tuesday or early Wednesday after impacting the western Palawan province.
Significant fatalities attributed to flooding
Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defence, confirmed that a minimum of 26 deaths were recorded — a majority from flooding in Cebu province and other central island provinces battered by Kalmaegi, the 20th tropical cyclone to strike the Philippine archipelago this year. Verification of the specifics surrounding these fatalities is still ongoing, as stated by Alejandro.
Among the deceased was an elderly resident who drowned in floodwaters in Southern Leyte, where a widespread power outage was reported following the typhoon’s landfall around midnight in one of its eastern towns. Additionally, an individual lost their life after being struck by a fallen tree in central Bohol province, according to provincial officials.
Typhoon Kalmaegi brought powerful winds, heavy rain and dangerous flooding to parts of the Philippines, including areas in Cebu, where video showed inundated streets and rescue efforts.
Gwendolyn Pang, secretary general of the Philippine Red Cross, reported that an unspecified number of individuals were stranded on their rooftops due to flooding in the coastal town of Liloan in Cebu. She added that cars were either submerged in floodwaters or seen floating in another community in Cebu.
“We have been inundated with pleas for rescue from people stranded on rooftops and inside their homes, but the conditions are challenging,” Pang told The Associated Press on Tuesday morning. “The presence of debris and floating vehicles necessitates waiting for the floodwaters to recede.”
Cebu province was still recuperating from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake on September 30, which resulted in a minimum of 79 fatalities and displaced thousands when structures collapsed or sustained severe damage.
PHOTOS | The aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi:
