Manila (Philipines)— Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has declared a state of emergency after Typhoon Kalmaegi left at least 114 people dead and over a hundred missing in the country’s central region. The storm, the deadliest natural disaster to strike the Philippines this year, triggered massive flash floods and landslides before moving into the South China Sea on Wednesday.
Most of the deaths were caused by drowning, with the central province of Cebu suffering the worst devastation. According to the Office of Civil Defence, 127 people remain missing, while nearly two million residents have been affected by the typhoon. More than 5,60,000 people were displaced, including 4,50,000 who sought refuge in emergency shelters.
President Marcos issued the “state of national calamity” declaration during a meeting with disaster-response officials, enabling faster release of relief funds and stricter monitoring against food hoarding and price manipulation. He urged immediate rehabilitation efforts for affected communities.
Authorities warned that another tropical cyclone forming over the Pacific Ocean could intensify into a super typhoon and strike the northern Philippines early next week.
Among those killed during relief operations were six air force personnel who died when their helicopter crashed in the southern province of Agusan del Sur while on a humanitarian mission. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Cebu province was hit hardest, with at least 71 confirmed deaths, 65 people missing, and 69 others injured. Negros Occidental, a neighboring province, also reported 62 missing residents. Floodwaters engulfed entire neighborhoods in Cebu, forcing many residents to climb onto their rooftops while waiting for rescue.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said authorities did everything possible to prepare for the storm but were overwhelmed by unexpected flash floods. She added that years of excessive quarrying, clogged rivers, and substandard flood control projects worsened the disaster’s impact.
Public anger has been growing nationwide over corruption scandals involving incomplete or poor-quality flood control infrastructure, which many believe contributed to the severity of recent disasters.
The calamity struck just weeks after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in northern Cebu on September 30, which killed at least 79 people and displaced thousands. Baricuatro said many of those previously living in temporary tents were moved to sturdier shelters before Kalmaegi hit, helping reduce casualties in quake-affected areas.
The coast guard has grounded ferries and fishing boats due to rough seas, stranding more than 3,500 passengers and cargo drivers across nearly 100 ports. At least 186 domestic flights were also canceled.
The Philippines faces around 20 typhoons each year, in addition to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, making it one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.
