MANILA, Philippines – The central Philippines is grappling with the catastrophic aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which has caused widespread flooding and landslides, leading to the deaths of at least 66 individuals. As search and rescue operations continue, 26 people remain missing in the wake of the powerful storm.The typhoon, locally named Tino, has severely impacted over 1.1 million residents and forced more than 400,000 people to flee their homes for safety. The central province of Cebu was among the hardest-hit areas, bearing the brunt of the storm's fury on Tuesday. Flash floods rapidly inundated communities, trapping terrified residents on the roofs of their submerged homes and sweeping away vehicles in the deluge. The devastation prompted officials in Cebu city to declare a state of calamity, which will help facilitate the release of emergency funds for relief and recovery. The province was already vulnerable, still recovering from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck in September.Tragedy compounded the disaster when a Philippine air force helicopter, on a mission to deliver humanitarian aid, crashed in the southern province of Agusan del Sur. All six military personnel aboard were killed in the incident.Relief efforts are underway, but progress is being slow and challenging due to damaged infrastructure. Authorities are working tirelessly to clear debris from roads and restore electricity to the 52 municipalities that have been left without power. The Philippine Red Cross reported receiving a high volume of desperate calls for rescue, particularly from those stranded on rooftops in Cebu.After cutting a destructive path across the archipelago with sustained winds of 130 kph (81 mph) and powerful gusts of up to 180 kph (112 mph), Typhoon Kalmaegi has now moved out into the South China Sea.
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