Devastating Typhoon Kalmaegi Claims Three Lives in the Philippines

Sun Nov 30 2025 23:08:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Typhoon Kalmaegi wreaks havoc in the central Philippines, leading to three deaths and displacing hundreds of thousands.

Typhoon Kalmaegi has caused significant destruction across the central Philippines, resulting in at least three fatalities and the evacuation of almost 400,000 residents. Flooding has devastated entire towns, particularly on Cebu Island, prompting widespread rescue efforts, including a military helicopter that crashed while assisting relief operations. The typhoon continues to threaten lives with high winds and water levels, marking one of the country's most severe weather events this year.

Devastating Typhoon Kalmaegi Claims Three Lives in the Philippines

At least three people have been killed and hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes as Typhoon Kalmaegi caused chaos in the central Philippines. The country's disaster agency confirmed the casualties, while extensive flooding has affected numerous regions, particularly in Cebu.

Videos circulating on social media depict harrowing scenes of residents sheltering on rooftops and vehicles, including shipping containers, being swept away by floodwaters.

A military helicopter on a rescue mission in Mindanao crashed, raising concerns about potential casualties. The Philippine Air Force is currently conducting search operations in hopes of finding survivors.

While the typhoon has weakened since it made landfall, it continues to unleash winds exceeding 80 mph (130 km/h), with forecasts suggesting it will traverse the Visayas islands before moving into the South China Sea by Wednesday.

The situation in Cebu is really unprecedented, expressed Governor Pamela Baricuatro as she recounted the devastation following the storm. Residents like Don del Rosario described the flooding as the worst they have experienced in decades.

Approximately 400,000 people have been evacuated from the typhoon's projected path. This recent disaster follows a particularly active storm season, which already claimed over a dozen lives from previous typhoons in recent weeks, alongside significant infrastructure losses.

Compounding the challenges, various parts of the Philippines have also faced severe flooding due to an unusually wet monsoon season, igniting public frustration over inadequate flood control measures attributed to corruption in government.

This meteorological crisis marks another chapter in the Philippines' struggle with severe weather patterns, as the country is struck by an average of 20 storms and typhoons annually.