Philippine Air Force Helicopter Crashes During Typhoon Kalmaegi Relief Efforts; At Least Five Dead in Storm

A Philippine air force helicopter carrying five personnel crashed yesterday in Agusan del Sur province while en route to assist with disaster relief following the devastation caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi, as the storm has already claimed at least five lives and triggered widespread flooding.

The Super Huey helicopter went down near Loreto town, and a search is underway to locate the air force personnel who were deploying to provide humanitarian aid to typhoon-affected provinces, according to a statement from the Eastern Mindanao Command. Military officials have not yet released details regarding the condition of those on board or the cause of the crash. The Philippines is frequently impacted by typhoons, making disaster preparedness crucial for the island nation.

Typhoon Kalmaegi was last located over the coastal waters of Jordan town in Guimaras province, packing sustained winds of 130 kph (81 mph) and gusts up to 180 kph (112 mph). It is forecast to move into the South China Sea late Tuesday or early Wednesday after crossing Palawan province. Elsewhere, an elderly resident drowned in floodwaters in Southern Leyte, while another person died after being struck by a falling tree in Bohol province, officials reported. Three additional fatalities occurred in Cebu province, where flooding has submerged homes and vehicles. “We have received so many calls from people asking us to rescue them from roofs and from their houses, but it’s impossible,” said Gwendolyn Pang, secretary-general of the Philippine Red Cross. “There are so many debris, you see cars floating so we have to wait for the flood to subside.”

Cebu province is still recovering from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on September 30 that resulted in at least 79 deaths and displaced thousands. More than 387,000 people had evacuated to safer locations prior to the typhoon’s landfall, and authorities warned of torrential rainfall, damaging winds, and potential storm surges. Interisland travel has been disrupted, stranding over 3,500 passengers and canceling at least 186 domestic flights. You can find more information about typhoon safety and preparedness from the National Hurricane Center.

Officials stated that rescue and recovery efforts will continue as conditions allow, and further assessments of the damage are expected once the typhoon has fully passed.