In brief
The Philippines suffers significant losses as Typhoon Kalmaegi causes devastating floods, resulting in at least 114 deaths and leaving hundreds missing. Cebu province is among the hardest-hit areas, prompting a complex rescue operation as the typhoon heads towards Vietnam.
The death toll from flooding caused by one of the strongest typhoons this year in the central Philippines has risen to at least 114, authorities said on Thursday. Typhoon Kalmaegi has flooded entire towns on Cebu, the region's most populous island, where 71 deaths were reported. Another 127 are missing and 82 injured, officials said.Cebu provincial authorities reported an additional 28 deaths, which were not included in the tally released by the national civil defence office, according to AFP news agency. Kalmaegi left the Philippines on Thursday morning and is currently moving toward central Vietnam, where residents are still reeling from floods that have already killed dozens of people.Most of the deaths were due to drowning, reports said. The storm sent torrents of muddy water down hillsides and into towns and cities, leading to extensive damage and utter chaos. Residents returning to their destroyed homes are struggling to cope with the aftermath. Jel-an Moira Servas, a business owner from Mandaue city, described her plight saying, Right now, the rain has completely stopped and the sun is out, but our houses are still filled with mud, and everything inside is in shambles.The national disaster agency reported that more than 400,000 people have been displaced by the disaster in Cebu, home to 2.5 million people. The official death toll also includes six crew members of a military helicopter that crashed on Mindanao island, south of Cebu, after it was deployed to assist in relief efforts.Carlos Jose Lañas, a volunteer rescuer, remarked that despite the preparations, the scale of the flooding was beyond expectations. This is the worst flood I've ever experienced, he said. Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, is the 20th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, following closely behind other destructive storms in a nation routinely affected by such disasters.The typhoon has now intensified as it moves toward Vietnam. Forecasts indicate the potential for serious flooding, prompting local officials to warn about flash floods and landslides. More than 50 flights in Vietnam have been canceled or rescheduled due to the approaching storm.}
