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Typhoon Kalmaegi Leaves Dozens Dead in Central Philippines as Helicopter Crash Adds to Toll

Preemptive evacuations moved nearly 400,000 people to safety ahead of landfall.

Overview

  • Officials report the death toll has climbed past 40, with many fatalities in Cebu province and six Air Force personnel recovered after a Super Huey crashed during relief operations in Agusan del Sur.
  • Severe flooding submerged neighborhoods in Cebu, Mandaue and Liloan, with residents pleading for rooftop rescues and some evacuation centers inundated, local officials and the Red Cross said.
  • Authorities cited sustained winds around 120–150 km/h with higher gusts and warned of life‑threatening storm surges up to about 3 meters along coastal and low‑lying areas.
  • Transport was heavily disrupted as ferries were halted, thousands were stranded at seaports, and hundreds of domestic flights were canceled, while widespread power outages were reported.
  • The storm has weakened while crossing the Visayas and is moving into the South China Sea toward central Vietnam, where officials have been placed on alert for possible landfall.