At least 26 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds of thousands displaced after torrential rains from Typhoon Kalmaegi unleashed massive flooding across the central Philippines on Tuesday.
Entire communities on Cebu Island were submerged as floodwaters swept through towns, carrying away cars, trucks, and even large shipping containers, according to videos verified by AFP. Civil defence deputy administrator Rafaelito Alejandro said 21 of the fatalities occurred in Cebu alone, with drowning identified as the leading cause of death.
In the 24 hours before Kalmaegi made landfall, areas around Cebu City recorded 183 millimetres of rainfall—far above the monthly average of 131 millimetres—state weather specialist Charmagne Varilla told AFP.
“The situation in Cebu is truly unprecedented,” Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said in a statement. “We expected strong winds, but it is the water that has become the real danger. The flood levels are devastating.”
Local disaster officials reported ongoing rescue operations, including attempts to reach residents trapped by rapidly rising waters. Two children were among the casualties recovered in Cebu City.
Additional deaths were recorded in Leyte and Bohol, including an elderly person who drowned on the upper floor of their home and a man killed by a falling tree.
Residents described scenes of chaos as floodwaters surged overnight. “The water rose so fast,” said 28-year-old Don del Rosario. “By 4 a.m., it was already uncontrollable. People couldn’t escape. This is the worst I’ve seen in my 28 years.”
Scientists have long warned that climate change is intensifying tropical storms. Warmer oceans fuel rapid typhoon strengthening, while a warmer atmosphere increases the volume of rainfall.
Authorities said nearly 400,000 residents were evacuated ahead of the storm. This included hundreds still living in tent shelters after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu in late September.
Military Helicopter Crashes During Relief Mission
In a separate development, the Philippine military confirmed that a Super Huey helicopter assisting in typhoon relief efforts crashed Tuesday afternoon on Mindanao Island while en route to the coastal city of Butuan. Search and recovery operations are ongoing, and officials have not disclosed whether there are survivors.
Storm Continues to Cut Across Visayas
Typhoon Kalmaegi, packing sustained winds of 130 km/h and gusts up to 180 km/h, continues moving westward across the Visayas region, toppling trees and knocking out power lines.
The Philippines experiences an average of 20 tropical cyclones each year. With Kalmaegi, the country has already reached that number for 2025, and weather forecasters warn that three to five more storms may form before the end of December.
Just last month, Super Typhoon Ragasa tore through the region and killed 14 people in Taiwan after battering parts of northern Philippines.
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