Typhoon Kalmaegi Kills 66, Leaves 26 Missing in Central Philippines

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - At least 66 people have been confirmed dead and 26 others are still missing as of Wednesday, November 5, 2025, after Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, swept through the central Philippines, local broadcaster ABS-CBN reported.

Hundreds of thousands of residents were forced to evacuate as the storm brought heavy rains, floods, and widespread destruction across several regions.

The tourist island of Cebu recorded the highest number of casualties, with at least 49 deaths reported by local media.

In Mindanao, six military personnel were killed when their helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff during an aerial assessment of the storm’s damage, according to the Philippine military.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the typhoon affected around 706,000 people, with approximately 348,000 taking shelter in evacuation centers.

At least 53 cities and municipalities have declared a state of calamity, enabling local governments to access emergency funds and impose price controls on essential goods.

According to the state weather agency PAGASA, Kalmaegi dumped more than a month’s worth of rainfall in just 24 hours across Southern Leyte and Cebu. Entire towns on Cebu Island were submerged, while cars, trucks, and even shipping containers were carried away by floodwaters.

Waves reaching up to three meters also battered coastal areas, causing further destruction. Civil Defense Deputy Administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said that Region 7, particularly Cebu, suffered the most severe impact.

“Although the typhoon has not completely passed and is still moving through Palawan, strong winds continue in the area, and monitoring is ongoing,” Alejandro told DZMM radio.

He added that cleanup operations were underway on 10 major roads blocked by debris, including four in Cebu.

“The situation may slow down some of our work, but there is no need for concern. We are mobilizing ground units, trucks, and helicopters as soon as the weather improves to deliver aid to isolated areas,” he said.

Tragedy in Cebu

In the 24 hours before Kalmaegi made landfall, Cebu City and nearby areas recorded 183 millimeters of rain, far exceeding the province’s monthly average of 131 millimeters, according to weather specialist Charmagne Varilla, as quoted by CNA.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro described the floods as unprecedented. “We expected the winds to be the main threat, but it was the rising waters that truly endangered our residents,” she said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Local disaster official Ethel Minoza said the bodies of two children were found in Cebu City, where rescue teams continue to reach residents trapped by floodwaters.

In other provinces, an elderly person drowned on the second floor of their home in Leyte, while a man in Bohol died after being struck by a falling tree.

Don del Rosario, a 28-year-old resident of Cebu City, recalled seeking safety on higher floors as the water levels rose quickly.

“The water came up so fast,” he said. “By four in the morning, it was already uncontrollable. People couldn’t get out of their homes. This is the worst we’ve experienced.”

Typhoon Kalmaegi began making landfall across the Philippines on Monday night. PAGASA reported that the storm was moving west-northwest at 25 kilometers per hour as of Tuesday morning.

By 08:00 AM, Wednesday, it had reached the West Philippine Sea after making landfall eight times, including in El Nido, Palawan.

The storm is expected to leave Philippine territory by late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Scientists have warned that tropical storms are becoming more destructive due to human-induced climate change, as warmer seas accelerate storm intensification and a warmer atmosphere retains more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall.

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