Manila, Nov 6: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a state of national calamity on Thursday after Typhoon Kalmaegi left at least 114 people dead and 127 others missing in the country’s central provinces, marking the deadliest natural disaster to hit the nation this year.
The deaths were largely due to drownings caused by flash floods, particularly in Cebu province, which bore the brunt of the storm. The tropical cyclone exited the Philippines on Wednesday, heading into the South China Sea, leaving behind a wide trail of destruction.
According to the Office of Civil Defence, nearly two million people were affected, while more than 5,60,000 residents were displaced. Of these, around 4,50,000 people sought refuge in emergency shelters.
Marcos made the emergency declaration during a meeting with disaster-response officials to assess the devastation. The measure, officials said, would allow the government to release emergency funds more swiftly and curb food hoarding and overpricing in affected regions.
“We are facing a national tragedy,” Marcos said in a televised address. “The declaration will ensure that help reaches our people as fast as possible.”
Authorities also warned that another tropical disturbance forming in the Pacific Ocean could intensify into a super typhoon and strike the northern Philippines early next week.
Among those killed were six Philippine air force personnel whose helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur province on Tuesday while en route to deliver humanitarian supplies to typhoon-hit areas. The military said it was investigating the cause of the crash.
In Cebu, flash floods engulfed entire communities, forcing residents to climb onto rooftops to escape rising waters. “We did everything we can for the typhoon, but there are some unexpected things like flash floods,” said Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro.
Provincial officials reported 71 deaths, 65 missing persons, and 69 injuries in Cebu alone. Another 62 people were reported missing in nearby Negros Occidental province.
Baricuatro noted that years of quarrying and clogged rivers worsened the disaster. She said the overflow of waterways was compounded by substandard flood control projects, many linked to a nationwide corruption scandal that has recently triggered street protests and public anger.
Cebu was still reeling from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on September 30, which killed at least 79 people and displaced thousands. “Many families still living in temporary shelters from the quake had to be moved to sturdier evacuation centers before the typhoon arrived,” Baricuatro said, adding that northern Cebu towns hit by the quake were largely spared from Kalmaegi’s flooding.
The coast guard said more than 3,500 passengers and cargo truck drivers were stranded at nearly 100 seaports after ferries and fishing boats were barred from sailing due to rough seas. At least 186 domestic flights were also cancelled.
The Philippines faces around 20 typhoons and storms each year, in addition to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, making it among the most disaster-prone countries in the world.
