Residents in central Philippines began cleaning mud from streets and homes on Wednesday after Typhoon Kalmaegi left at least 85 dead and dozens missing across the region. The hardest-hit province, Cebu, revealed significant destruction as floodwaters receded, exposing homes turned to rubble, overturned vehicles, and streets clogged with debris.
In Cebu City, 58-year-old Marlon Enriquez tried to recover his family's belongings beneath thick layers of mud. He reflected,
“This was the first time that has happened to us. I’ve been living here for almost 16 years and it was the first time I’ve experienced flooding (like this).”
Nearby in Talisay, 38-year-old Eilene Oken found her neighborhood devastated and her home completely destroyed. She shared,
“We worked and saved for this for years, then in an instant, it was all gone.”
Despite the loss, Oken expressed gratitude that her family, including her two daughters, survived unharmed.
Among the 85 fatalities were six military personnel who died when their helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur on Mindanao during a humanitarian mission. Authorities reported 75 people missing and 17 injured due to the typhoon's effects.
Typhoon Kalmaegi, known locally as Tino, struck just over a month after a magnitude 6 earthquake, compounding challenges for affected communities.
Author’s summary: Typhoon Kalmaegi caused severe destruction in the Philippines, killing at least 85 people and leaving dozens missing, while deeply impacting families and infrastructure in Cebu and beyond.