El Typhoon Kalmaegi, known locally as Tino, has left a devastating toll in the Philippines: At least 93 people have lost their lives and 26 people are reported missing, while the cyclone continues to move with winds close to 130 km/h in the direction of central Vietnam.
The Flash floodsLandslides and power outages have complicated rescue efforts, especially in Zebu, which has declared a state of calamity after the storm hit the Visayas, as happened with the Typhoon Bualoi in the Philippines, and its subsequent access to the South China Sea.
Victims, those affected and damages
The latest balance sheet raises to 93 deaths at the national level. In the Cebu provinceThe hardest hit, recovered 35 bodies in a flooded coastal town and the provincial tally rose to 76, while the total number of The number of people affected exceeds 706.000. in 241 municipalities, according to official data.
Among the victims are six military personnel deaths in southern Mindanao after the collapse of a helicopter who was carrying out a humanitarian mission. Authorities have also confirmed dozens of injuries and thousands of homes damaged by water and wind.
The testimonies gathered in flooded neighborhoods describe water level rises in a matter of minuteswith residents taking refuge on rooftops and among rubble. Streets turned into torrents, towed vehicles and neighborhoods covered in mud paint a picture of great devastation after the cyclone passed.
The emergency comes just a month after the magnitude 6,9 earthquake which shook the province of Cebu, a precedent that has aggravated the vulnerability of infrastructure and thousands of families who were still living in temporary accommodations.
Evacuations and emergency operations
The authorities have ordered mass evacuations and the closure of schools and offices in the most vulnerable areas. The total number of evacuees is... about 437.000 people at the national level, with more than 200.000 in the VisayasIn the Dinagat Islands alone, some 7.000 people were preventively relocated, and tourist activities and fishing have been suspended in areas such as siargao.
Teams of the Philippine Red Cross Emergency services have used boats to reach communities isolated by the flooding. They persist. power outages and telecommunications failures in several municipalities, while work is underway against the clock to restore basic services.
The impact on transport has been significant: They cancelled more than 180 flights in the affected areas, and small vessels were asked to remain in safe harbor due to the risk of waves and swells associated with the cyclone.
With the waters receding, the immediate challenge is remove the debrisreopen blocked roads and accelerate aid distribution. Cebu formalized the state of calamity to mobilize resources more quickly in the face of serious damage and the suspension of essential services.
Trajectory and forecasts
Kalmaegi made landfall near Silago and crossed the center of the archipelago before passing through Palawan (The Nest) heading towards South China SeaAfter weakening upon making landfall, models indicate that it will intensify again over open waters on its way towards the central Vietnam.
The weather agency PAGASA maintains the alert for storm surge potentially deadly at specific heights exceeding three meters in low-lying and exposed areas. Interaction with a cutting line which has increased rainfall in the Visayas and nearby areas.
Vietnam is preparing for the worst-case scenario Given the possible arrival of the system in the coming days, in a context already complicated by recent floods which have left at least 40 dead. In China, Hainan province issued a level four alert due to the approaching cyclone.
Rain, wind and climatic factors
In the 24 hours prior to the impact, the environment of Cebu City registry 183 mm of rain, far exceeding the monthly average of 131 mm. The combination of sustained winds close to 130 km/h and heavy rainfall favored floods and landslides.
Experts stress that the ocean warming drives a rapid intensification of these systems, and that a warmer atmosphere retains more moisture, triggering more torrential rains, a pattern observed in typhoons in the western Pacific.
Transport and practical advice for European travelers
For those traveling to or from Europe with connections in the Philippines or Vietnam, it is recommended confirm flight status with airlines and airports due to cancellations and reschedulings. In tourist destinations such as Cebu, Siargao and El Nido It is advisable to avoid low-lying coastal areas, follow local advisories, and check coverage of travel insurance.
European embassies and consulates usually issue traveler notices During severe weather events: it is advisable to register with travel registries, maintain contact channels open and heed the civil protection instructions before traveling through affected areas.
Kalmaegi leaves a panorama of great human and material impact in the Philippines, with Cebu as the epicenter of the damage, hundreds of thousands of evacuees and widespread disruption to services and transport, while attention is already focused on its evolution over the South China Sea and the risk it poses to the next few hours on the coast of Vietnam.
