At least 66 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds of thousands displaced as one of the year’s most powerful typhoons tore through the central Philippines, officials said on Wednesday.
Widespread Destruction in Cebu
Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally named Tino, submerged entire towns on Cebu, the country’s most populous central island, where 49 of the fatalities were reported. Another 26 people remain missing, according to a civil defence official speaking to local radio.
DON’T LOOK AWAY!
This is Cebu, Philippines, where the death toll from Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi) has climbed to 92.
Homes destroyed. Entire neighbourhoods swept away. These are people like you and me, children, parents, families, their lives changed forever.
Why do some disasters… pic.twitter.com/1qcpAtzXdy
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) November 5, 2025
Footage circulating online showed residents seeking refuge on rooftops as floodwaters surged through streets, sweeping away vehicles and shipping containers.
Military Helicopter Crash Adds to Toll
Among the confirmed deaths were six crew members of a military helicopter that crashed on Mindanao island while delivering relief supplies. The aircraft, one of four deployed for disaster response, went down near Agusan del Sur on Tuesday.
“Communication with the helicopter was lost, which immediately prompted the launch of a search and rescue operation,” the Philippine Air Force said in a statement. Later, a spokesperson confirmed that six bodies—believed to be the pilot and crew—had been recovered.
Typhoon Weakens but Flooding Persists
Although Typhoon Kalmaegi has weakened since making landfall early Tuesday, it continues to bring winds exceeding 80 mph (130 km/h). The storm is expected to move across the Visayas region and into the South China Sea by Wednesday.
More than 400,000 people have been forced from their homes, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Cebu province remains among the hardest hit, with widespread flooding and severe damage to property.
Residents Describe “Unprecedented” Floods
Jel-an Moira Servas, a business owner from Mandaue City, told the BBC that her home was inundated within minutes.
“Right now, the rain has completely stopped and the sun is out, but our houses are still filled with mud, and everything inside is in shambles,” she said. “We don’t even know where to start cleaning. I can’t even look at it without crying.”
Deputy Civil Defence Administrator Rafaelito Alejandro said the main challenge now was clearing “debris and cars on the road.”
Rescue volunteer Carlos Jose Lañas, 19, told the BBC that even seasoned responders were overwhelmed. “This is the worst flood I’ve ever experienced,” he said. “Almost all the rivers here in Cebu overflowed. Even emergency responders did not expect this kind of scenario.”
Cebu Declares State of Calamity
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro described the disaster as “unprecedented.”
“We were expecting the winds to be the dangerous part, but… the water is what’s truly putting our people at risk,” she said in a Facebook post. “The floodwaters are just devastating.”
A state of calamity was declared across the province on Tuesday night to speed up relief and recovery operations.
Extensive Damage and Ongoing Recovery
Most fatalities were caused by drowning, according to local reports. The floods sent torrents of muddy water cascading down hillsides and into towns, destroying homes and infrastructure.
Rescue teams used boats to reach stranded residents. “I’ve been here for 28 years, and this is by far the worst we’ve experienced,” said Don del Rosario, a Cebu City resident, speaking to AFP.
Series of Disasters
The Philippines is struck by around 20 storms and typhoons each year. Kalmaegi comes less than a month after Typhoons Ragasa (Nando) and Bualoi (Opong) killed more than a dozen people and caused extensive damage to crops and infrastructure.
The country has also been reeling from a series of natural disasters, including a 6.9-magnitude earthquake on 30 September that caused multiple fatalities in Cebu.
Kalmaegi is now heading toward Vietnam, where authorities are bracing for record rainfall.
