Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has declared a state of national emergency after Typhoon Kalmaegi devastated several central provinces, leaving at least 114 people dead and 127 missing in what has become the deadliest natural disaster to strike the country this year.
According to the Office of Civil Defence, the powerful typhoon affected nearly 2 million people and displaced over 560,000 residents, of whom approximately 450,000 were evacuated to emergency shelters. The storm has since moved out of the Philippine archipelago and into the South China Sea, but the scale of destruction it left behind continues to unfold.
Cebu hardest hit by flash floods
The central province of Cebu was the worst affected, with 71 deaths reported, mostly from drowning, and at least 65 people still missing. Officials said flash floods caused rivers and waterways to overflow, submerging residential areas and trapping residents on rooftops.
“We did everything we can for the typhoon but, you know, there are really some unexpected things like flash floods,” Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said. She added that years of quarrying and poor flood control projects had worsened the situation by clogging rivers and reducing natural drainage.
Neighbouring Negros Occidental province also suffered heavy losses, with at least 62 people missing and widespread flooding that damaged homes, bridges, and farmlands.
Air force crash adds to tragedy
Among the casualties were six members of the Philippine Air Force who died when their helicopter crashed in the southern province of Agusan del Sur on Tuesday. The crew had been en route to deliver humanitarian aid to areas hit by the storm. The military said an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the crash.
Emergency powers to speed up relief
President Marcos’s declaration of a state of national calamity allows the government to release emergency funds more quickly, control prices of basic goods, and prevent food hoarding in affected areas. The measure is also intended to facilitate faster rehabilitation and restoration efforts.
“Let us make sure that all the resources we have are mobilised properly and efficiently to help our fellow Filipinos who have been devastated by Typhoon Kalmaegi,” Marcos said during a briefing with disaster-response officials.
Infrastructure failures and corruption concerns
Officials and residents in Cebu have criticised the government’s failure to implement effective flood control systems, citing long-standing corruption scandals linked to substandard or non-existent flood projects. These controversies have fuelled public protests and anti-corruption demonstrations across the country in recent months.
The governor of Cebu admitted that years of unregulated quarrying had contributed to the flooding. “The rivers were clogged because of mining and quarry waste. When the rains came, the water had nowhere to go,” Baricuatro said.
Compounded disasters in Cebu
Cebu was still reeling from the aftermath of a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on 30 September, which killed at least 79 people and left thousands homeless after buildings collapsed. The back-to-back disasters have stretched local emergency response systems to their limits.
Transport disruption and evacuations
The Philippine Coast Guard reported that ferries and fishing boats were banned from sailing during the storm, leaving more than 3,500 passengers and cargo truck drivers stranded in nearly 100 seaports. Meanwhile, at least 186 domestic flights were cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions.
Despite the widespread evacuation efforts, local authorities said many residents were caught off guard by the sudden rise in floodwaters, which occurred in areas not typically prone to severe flooding.
Another storm threat looms
Even as relief and rescue efforts continue, disaster officials warned that another tropical cyclone forming in the Pacific Ocean could intensify into a super typhoon and hit the northern Philippines early next week. Residents in northern Luzon have been urged to prepare for potential evacuations.
A nation prone to disasters
The Philippines, located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences an average of 20 typhoons and storms each year, alongside frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Its geographical position makes it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, with climate change further increasing the severity of natural calamities.
Conclusion
Typhoon Kalmaegi’s devastation serves as another grim reminder of the Philippines’ vulnerability to extreme weather events and the urgent need for stronger disaster management systems. As emergency workers continue search and rescue operations, President Marcos’s administration faces mounting pressure to improve infrastructure, curb corruption, and ensure that future disasters are met with better preparedness and transparency.