85 dead in Philippines as Typhoon Kalmaegi heads toward Vietnam

At least 85 people have been killed after Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Typhoon Tino, tore through central Philippines with destructive winds and torrential rains. The storm made landfall in El Nido, Palawan, early Wednesday before moving toward the West Philippine Sea, where it is expected to regain strength within the next 12 hours, according to the weather bureau PAGASA.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 49 of the deaths occurred in Cebu due to landslides, flooding, and falling debris. Thirteen people remain missing in Cebu and another 13 in Negros Occidental. Six Philippine Air Force crew members also died after their helicopter crashed during rescue operations in Mindanao.

More than 706,000 people were affected nationwide, with nearly 348,000 taking shelter in evacuation centers. “I’ve been here for 28 years, this is by far the worst we’ve experienced,” said a resident in northern Cebu, describing how floodwaters rose rapidly overnight.

PAGASA had issued early warnings, and over 70,000 people were evacuated from coastal areas before the storm hit. International agencies, including the World Meteorological Organization and ReliefWeb, also flagged the risk of severe flooding and strong winds. Despite preparations, widespread damage shows how vulnerable many communities remain.

Kalmaegi, the 20th cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, is now moving toward Vietnam, where authorities have placed coastal regions on high alert, suspending fishing operations and preparing shelters. The storm follows a series of major weather events this year, adding to the Philippines’ rising disaster toll amid increasingly intense climate-driven storms.