MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of national emergency after Typhoon Kalmaegi unleashed catastrophic flooding and landslides across the central provinces, killing at least 114 people and leaving 127 missing in what officials call the country’s deadliest disaster of the year.
Most of the deaths were caused by drowning during flash floods that swept through residential areas, particularly in Cebu province, where 71 people died and dozens more remain unaccounted for. The powerful storm, which exited the archipelago on Wednesday and moved into the South China Sea, has affected nearly two million people and displaced over 560,000, including 450,000 evacuees now sheltering in emergency centers, according to the Office of Civil Defense.
The emergency declaration, announced during a meeting with disaster officials, will allow faster release of government aid, stabilize food prices, and crack down on hoarding as rescue and recovery operations intensify.
Tragedy also struck during relief efforts when a Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur province, killing six crew members en route to deliver humanitarian supplies to typhoon-hit communities. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
In Cebu, entire neighborhoods were engulfed by floodwaters after swollen rivers overflowed, forcing residents to climb onto rooftops and call for help as rescue boats struggled against strong currents. Governor Pamela Baricuatro said the flooding was made worse by years of quarrying that clogged rivers and by defective flood control projects tied to a nationwide corruption scandal that has fueled protests in recent months.
The devastation comes as Cebu was still recovering from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck in late September, killing 79 people and leaving thousands homeless. Many of those displaced were relocated to sturdier evacuation centers before Kalmaegi hit, which officials say likely prevented an even higher death toll.
The Coast Guard has suspended all ferry and fishing operations, stranding 3,500 passengers and cargo truck drivers at nearly 100 ports, while 186 domestic flights were canceled amid dangerous winds and waves.
As recovery efforts continue, authorities are bracing for another potential super typhoon forming in the Pacific that could hit the northern Philippines early next week.
With around 20 major storms striking the country each year — along with frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions — the Philippines remains one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations, and Typhoon Kalmaegi has once again exposed the fragile state of its infrastructure and disaster preparedness.