Typhoon Kalmaegi kills at least 66, many in quake-hit Philippine province
Assalamu alaikum - Typhoon Kalmaegi has left at least 66 people dead and 26 missing in the central Philippines, with many victims from severe flooding that trapped families on their roofs and washed away vehicles in a province still trying to recover from a deadly earthquake. Authorities said six of the dead were in a separate case when a Philippine air force helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur while on its way to deliver humanitarian aid to storm-hit areas. Forecasters reported Kalmaegi moved off western Palawan into the South China Sea before noon on Wednesday, with sustained winds up to 130 kph (81 mph) and gusts as high as 180 kph (112 mph). Most fatalities were in Cebu province, where flash floods and swollen rivers inundated neighborhoods and forced people to climb onto their roofs pleading to be rescued. Officials said at least 49 people in Cebu mostly drowned, and others died from landslides or falling debris; 13 of the 26 missing were also from Cebu. The Philippine Red Cross received many rooftop rescue calls but had to wait until floodwaters receded to reduce risks to rescuers. “We did everything we can for the typhoon but, you know, there are really some unexpected things like flash floods,” Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said. Years of quarrying and silt buildup in rivers, plus poor flood-control work, may have made the rains’ impact worse in parts of Cebu, the governor added, calling for investigations and accountability for substandard projects. Cebu - home to more than 2.4 million people - declared a state of calamity to speed emergency funding. The province was still rebuilding after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake on Sept. 30 that killed at least 79 people and displaced thousands; many displaced residents had been moved from flimsy tents into sturdier shelters before the typhoon. There were other reported deaths in provinces such as Southern Leyte, where an elderly villager drowned, and elsewhere from falling trees and debris. Before the storm’s main impact, officials said more than 387,000 people evacuated to safer ground across eastern and central provinces. Authorities warned of torrential rain, destructive winds and storm surges of up to three meters (nearly 10 feet). Rough seas led to bans on ferries and fishing boats, leaving over 3,500 passengers and drivers stranded at nearly 100 seaports, and at least 186 domestic flights were canceled. The Philippines typically faces about 20 typhoons and storms each year, and also sits on active fault lines and near many volcanoes, making it highly disaster-prone. Neighboring central Vietnam, still recovering from record rains that caused floods and landslides, was preparing for more heavy rain as Kalmaegi approached, with local authorities readying evacuations, shelters and food supplies. May Allah have mercy on the victims and grant safety to those affected; may communities recover quickly and those involved in rescue and relief be protected.
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