MANILA — At least 26 people have died as Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, swept across the central Philippines, triggering severe flooding that trapped residents on rooftops and submerged vehicles, authorities said Tuesday.
Disaster officials reported that most of the deaths occurred in the Visayas region, particularly in Cebu and nearby provinces, where heavy rains caused flash floods and landslides. More than 387,000 people were evacuated ahead of the storm’s landfall.
In a separate tragedy, six Philippine Air Force personnel were killed when a Super Huey helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur while delivering relief goods to areas devastated by Tino. The aircraft went down near the town of Loreto, and the remains of all those aboard were later recovered, according to the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command. The cause of the crash has yet to be determined.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Tino was last spotted over the coastal waters of Jordan, Guimaras, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 180 kph. The typhoon is forecast to exit toward the South China Sea by late Tuesday or early Wednesday after crossing Palawan.
Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, said verification of reported fatalities continues as local governments assess damage. One elderly man drowned in Southern Leyte, while another resident in Bohol died after being struck by a fallen tree.
The Philippine Red Cross reported that floodwaters in Cebu’s coastal town of Liloan forced residents onto rooftops as debris and floating cars hampered rescue efforts. “We’ve received many calls for rescue, but the flood and debris made it impossible to reach them,” said Red Cross Secretary-General Gwendolyn Pang.
Cebu province was still recovering from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in September that killed at least 79 people when Tino struck.
In Eastern Samar, strong winds damaged about 300 homes on Homonhon Island, though no casualties were reported. Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales Kwan said her community, which was among the hardest hit by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, remained resilient.
Ahead of the typhoon, sea and air travel were suspended nationwide. The Philippine Coast Guard said more than 3,500 passengers were stranded in nearly 100 ports, while at least 186 domestic flights were canceled due to the storm.
The Philippines faces around 20 tropical cyclones each year, along with frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
