Typhoon Kalmaegi has prompted the Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare a state of calamity following significant flooding that has resulted in at least 114 fatalities. The central region, particularly the island of Cebu, has suffered extensive damage, with 71 deaths reported there. Additionally, 127 individuals are currently missing, and at least 82 have sustained injuries, according to local authorities. Cebu provincial officials have reported an additional 28 deaths that were not included in the national civil defense’s official count.
Kalmaegi, classified as one of the year’s strongest typhoons, exited the Philippines on Thursday morning and is now heading toward central Vietnam, which is also grappling with flooding. President Marcos noted that the declaration was influenced not only by the destruction caused by this storm but also by the anticipated arrival of another storm, Typhoon Uwan, expected over the upcoming weekend. He indicated that approximately 10 to 12 regions will be impacted, necessitating the declaration of a national calamity due to the broad-scale disruption.
A state of calamity allows government agencies to access emergency funds and streamline the delivery of essential services to affected populations. Reports indicate that most deaths stemmed from drowning as floodwaters inundated towns and cities, causing significant property loss. In Cebu, residential areas have faced extensive devastation, with many structures swept away and mud covering the landscape.
The national disaster agency has confirmed that over 400,000 individuals have been displaced due to the flooding, with ongoing rescue operations facing challenges due to the scale of the disaster. In addition to the deaths in the floods, six crew members from a military helicopter involved in relief efforts perished in a crash on Mindanao island.
Kalmaegi is the 20th tropical cyclone to impact the Philippines in 2023, following recent storms that have already caused fatalities and damage to infrastructure and agriculture. Having strengthened post-exit with wind speeds reaching 155 km/h, Kalmaegi is projected to make landfall in Vietnam soon, where preparations are underway, including flight cancellations in anticipation of the storm’s effects.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62e0764e6qo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss