Typhoon Kalmaegi death Toll Rises To 66 As Philippine survivors face devastation,
Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines has left 66 dead and 26 others missing in the central Philippines. According to officials, the disaster has resulted in widespread flooding that trapped people on their roofs and swept away cars in a hard-hit province still recovering from a deadly earthquake.
In Talisay City, survivors dig through the devastation, seeking to save what little remains. Eilene Oken, 38, was one of them, having walked through what used to be her neighbourhood only to discover her home completely destroyed.
Read Also: Hurricane Melissa hits Cuba hours after Devastating Jamaica
She said with her voice breaking, “We worked and saved for this for years, then in an instant, it was all gone.” But Oken said she remains grateful because her family, including her two daughters, was unharmed.
According to the Office of Civil Defence on Wednesday, at least 49 drowned in floods and others died as a result of landslides and falling debris in Cebu, where 13 of the 26 missing were reported.
Videos of devastation emerged in Cebu, a major tourist hub, as floodwaters receded, revealing destroyed homes, overturned vehicles, and widespread debris.
Read Also: Taiwan intends to deepen military ties with the United States
Six military personnel whose helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur on the island of Mindanao during a humanitarian mission were among the fatalities.
The disaster agency reported 26 people missing and 10 injured.
The destruction from Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, came just over a month after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, which killed hundreds and displaced thousands in northern Cebu.
Read Also: World Food Program says 13.7 million people face severe hunger due to global aid cuts
Typhoon Kalmaegi, the 20th storm to hit the Philippines, has slightly intensified as it crossed the South China Sea on its way to Vietnam, where preparations are underway ahead of the typhoon’s expected landfall on Friday.
Over 200,000 people were evacuated across the Visayas region, including parts of southern Luzon and northern Mindanao, ahead of a storm that submerged homes and caused widespread flooding and power outages.
