Philippines Declares State of Emergency After Typhoon Kalmaegi Kills Over 100
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national calamity today after Typhoon Kalmaegi caused widespread devastation, resulting in at least 114 confirmed deaths and over 100 people missing – marking the deadliest natural disaster in the country this year.
The majority of fatalities were caused by drowning due to flash floods, particularly in the central province of Cebu, where 71 deaths have been reported. A total of 127 individuals remain missing, and nearly 2 million people have been affected by the storm, with over 560,000 displaced from their homes, including almost 450,000 evacuated to emergency shelters. The typhoon moved into the South China Sea yesterday after sweeping across the archipelago. This disaster highlights the Philippines’ extreme vulnerability to typhoons, consistently ranked among the world’s most affected nations by these storms.
The declaration of a state of national calamity will expedite the disbursement of emergency funds and prevent price gouging on essential goods. “We did everything we can for the typhoon but, you know, there are really some unexpected things like flash floods,” Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro told the Associated Press by telephone. Authorities are also investigating whether years of unregulated quarrying and substandard flood control projects contributed to the severity of the flooding in Cebu province.
Meanwhile, Vietnam is preparing for Kalmaegi’s arrival, with the financial hub of Ho Chi Minh City facing a heightened risk of severe flooding due to coinciding high tides and expected heavy rainfall. Disaster-response officials are also monitoring another tropical cyclone forming in the Pacific, which could strengthen into a super typhoon and impact the northern Philippines early next week. Marcos stated the government is prepared to address the combined impact of both storms, which threaten approximately two-thirds of the country.
