At least 58 people have been killed after Typhoon Kalmaegi tore through the central Philippines, leaving behind scenes of devastation and continuing to batter Palawan on Wednesday as it moved toward the South China Sea.
Among the victims were six military personnel whose helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur, Mindanao, during a humanitarian mission, authorities confirmed.
In Cebu, a popular tourist destination, floodwaters have begun to recede—revealing destroyed homes, overturned vehicles, and widespread debris. The national disaster agency said 13 people remain missing.
The destruction comes just weeks after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Cebu, killing dozens and displacing thousands.
Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, weakened after making landfall on Tuesday but is expected to regain strength as it travels across the South China Sea, according to the Philippine weather bureau PAGASA. The storm’s projected path shows it heading westward toward Vietnam, where officials are bracing for potential landfall on Friday.
More than 200,000 residents across the Visayas, southern Luzon, and northern Mindanao were evacuated as the typhoon brought heavy rains, flash floods, and power outages.
With sustained winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching 165 kph, Kalmaegi is the 20th storm to hit the Philippines this year.
In September, Super Typhoon Ragasa struck northern Luzon, shutting down schools and government offices as it unleashed torrential rain and violent winds.
