The Death Toll From Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines Has Risen to 114

The impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi in Cebu, Philippines. (Wikimedia Commons/Martin Michlmayr)

JAKARTA - The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Kalmaegi has risen to 114, with another 127 still missing, the disaster agency said Thursday, as the storm regained strength as it headed toward Vietnam.

In Cebu Province, the worst-hit province in the Philippines, the scale of the damage became clearer as floodwaters receded, revealing flattened homes, overturned vehicles, and debris-strewn streets.

More than 200,000 people were evacuated in the Philippines ahead of Typhoon Kalmaegi on Tuesday. Some have returned to find their homes destroyed, while others have begun the arduous cleanup, clearing mud from their homes and roads.

Authorities deployed thousands of troops to assist with evacuations, rescue operations, and recovery efforts.

"The challenge now is debris removal. This needs to be done immediately, not only to ensure the safety of those missing who may be among the debris or have reached safe areas, but also to allow relief operations to move forward," Raffy Alejandro, a senior civil defense official, told DZBB radio, as reported by Reuters on November 6.

The devastation caused by Kalmaegi, the 20th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, comes just a month after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck northern Cebu, killing dozens and displacing thousands.

As Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally called Tino, exited the Philippine watch zone, forecasters were tracking a storm forming east of Mindanao that could strengthen into a typhoon, raising concerns about potential impacts early next week.

As Kalmaegi moved over the South China Sea before making landfall in Vietnam, it regained strength. The storm is expected to impact several provinces in the central region, including key coffee-growing areas, where the harvest season is underway.

In Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, approximately 350,000 people were estimated to have been evacuated during the day as authorities warned of heavy rain and strong winds that could cause flooding in low-lying areas and disrupt agricultural activities.

Meanwhile, Vietnam's aviation authority said that operations at eight airports, including the international airport in Da Nang, were likely to be affected.

Airlines and local authorities have been urged to closely monitor the storm's development to ensure passenger safety.