Unprecedented Flooding Devastates Cebu Province
The death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines surpassed 100 on Wednesday as rescue teams continued recovering bodies from areas devastated by massive flooding in Cebu province. Officials described the floodwaters as “unprecedented,” with torrents strong enough to sweep away vehicles, homes, and even large shipping containers.
Cebu provincial spokesperson Rhon Ramos confirmed that 35 bodies had been recovered in the flooded town of Liloan, part of the metropolitan area surrounding Cebu City. This brought the total number of fatalities in Cebu to 76. National civil defence deputy administrator Rafaelito Alejandro reported at least 17 more deaths in other provinces, while 26 people remained missing.
“It was the major cities that got hit with floods — highly urbanised areas,” Alejandro said, adding that rescue and relief operations were ongoing despite difficult conditions.
Residents Describe the Disaster as the Worst in Memory
Local residents recalled the terrifying night as floodwaters rapidly engulfed homes and streets. “The flood here yesterday was really severe,” said shop owner Reynaldo Vergara, 53. “Around four or five in the morning, the water was so strong that you couldn’t even step outside. Nothing like this has ever happened.”
Weather officials reported that Cebu City and nearby areas received 183 millimetres (seven inches) of rain within 24 hours — far exceeding the region’s monthly average of 131 millimetres. Provincial governor Pamela Baricuatro called the situation “unprecedented,” noting that the flooding, not the winds, caused the greatest destruction.
Climate Change and Ongoing Relief Efforts
Scientists have warned that human-driven climate change is making typhoons stronger and wetter. Warmer oceans fuel rapid storm intensification, while a hotter atmosphere retains more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall and severe flooding.
Authorities said nearly 400,000 people were pre-emptively evacuated from Kalmaegi’s path. However, rescue operations suffered a setback when a Philippine military helicopter crashed in northern Mindanao while transporting relief supplies. The Super Huey helicopter went down en route to Butuan City, killing all six personnel on board, according to Air Force officials.
As of Wednesday morning, Typhoon Kalmaegi was moving west toward Palawan with sustained winds of 130 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 180 kph. The Philippines, which faces an average of 20 typhoons annually, has already matched that number this year, with experts warning that three to five more storms could hit by December’s end.
