Manila, Philippines — November 6, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
Typhoon Typhoon Kalmaegi, known locally as “Tino,” wreaked havoc across the central Philippines this week, leaving at least 114 people dead, hundreds missing and more than half a million residents displaced. The storm’s impact triggered a national state of emergency and prompted urgent search & rescue operations amid widespread flooding, landslides and infrastructure collapse.
According to the Philippine Office of Civil Defense, Kalmaegi made landfall Tuesday and dumped over 7 inches (175 mm) of rain in parts of Cebu province within 24 hours — an amount equivalent to more than a month’s rainfall. Rivers overflowed, slopes collapsed, and whole communities were inundated as torrents of water swept homes, vehicles and debris together. Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro described the flooding as “the worst flash-flood event caused by a typhoon” in the province’s history.
In Cebu, one of the hardest-hit regions, more than 560,000 people were displaced, of whom approximately 450,000 are now in emergency shelters. The death toll there stands at at least 71, with 127 missing across the province. Nationwide, the government estimates that roughly 2 million people have been impacted, with many communities still fully submerged or cut off.
In response to the wide-scale destruction, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national calamity, granting the government access to emergency funds and freeing up logistical channels for relief and recovery. Military assets, helicopters and disaster-response units are being mobilised to reach isolated areas where roads have collapsed and electric power is out. Reports also confirm a Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed during a humanitarian mission, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Humanitarian and Infrastructure Impact
Communities described sudden surges of water carrying debris and vehicles, as well as extensive mudflows covering entire neighbourhoods. In Talisay City and other parts of Cebu, drone footage captured rooftops barely visible above muddy floodwaters and entire riverside barangays washed away. Recovery efforts face daunting challenges: more than 1.4 million households lost electricity, and major highways, bridges and coastal infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.
Kalmaegi’s devastation comes as the Philippines continues to grapple with intensified weather events. Experts link the increasing scale of storms to climate-change impacts, while local officials point to underlying vulnerabilities in infrastructure and disaster preparedness. The rapid onslaught of rain and collapse of flood defences have triggered public frustration and calls for accountability.
Rescue teams say the full human and economic cost will only emerge in the coming days as waters recede and communities are re-accessed. With another tropical storm — Tropical Storm Fung‑Wong — already approaching northern Luzon, authorities warn of renewed risk in a nation still reeling from Kalmaegi’s destruction.