The number of deaths from the severe typhoon “Kalmaegi” is increasing in the Philippines. According to civil defense, at least 66 people were killed and 26 others are still missing.
Nov 5, 2025, 4:57 amNov 5, 2025, 4:57 am
Six of the victims died when a military helicopter that was inspecting storm damage crashed. Many others drowned or were struck by falling trees or debris.
The storm swept away entire neighborhoods, here in Talisay City near Cebu.Image: keystone
According to civil protection, more than 430,000 people were forced from their homes. 24 provinces in the island groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were affected. The power went out in many places. Dozens of flights were canceled.
The cyclone had previously raged in the Southeast Asian island state with hurricane-like gusts, heavy rain and meter-high tidal waves. According to the Pagasa weather service, it has now weakened, but the wind gusts still reached speeds of around 180 kilometers per hour.
Residents escape to roofs
Many streets were completely under water, cars were stacked on top of each other due to the forces of nature, and numerous residents had to escape to the roofs of their houses. The destruction was sometimes enormous.
In total, “Kalmaegi”, which is called “Tino” in the Philippines, made landfall seven times – most recently in the early morning in the city of El Nido in the western province of Palawan. According to forecasts, the storm will leave the Philippines on Wednesday or Thursday and head towards Vietnam. Heavy rainfall is also expected in the north of Thailand this weekend.
Next storm is heading towards the Philippines
Meanwhile, according to meteorologists, the next tropical cyclone is already approaching. It is expected to make landfall in the Philippines on Friday or Saturday and develop into a super typhoon over the weekend. This is a particularly severe tropical storm with mean winds reaching at least 240 kilometers per hour.
The Philippines is hit by an average of around 20 typhoons every year. The particularly bad storm “Haiyan” cost the lives of more than 6,300 people in November 2013. (sda/dpa)