Typhoon Kalmaegi Kills 46 in Philippines, Vietnam Braces for Impact

Typhoon Kalmaegi Kills 46 in Philippines, Vietnam Braces for Impact
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At least 46 people have died in the Philippines after Typhoon Kalmaegi battered the country with strong winds and heavy rains, officials said Tuesday, as reported by Reuters. The fatalities include six military personnel whose helicopter crashed during a disaster response mission in the southern province of Agusan del Sur. The aircraft, a Huey helicopter, was conducting humanitarian operations when it went down, and all six crew members were found dead, according to the military.

Local authorities said most of the other victims were in Cebu Province, where 39 people died from drowning or falling debris. One death was also reported on the neighboring island of Bohol. Tens of thousands were evacuated from low-lying areas as the typhoon, locally named Tino, triggered widespread flooding, power outages, and transport disruptions.

Kalmaegi made landfall early Tuesday with winds reaching 120 kilometers per hour and gusts up to 165 kph, before weakening as it moved across the Visayas islands toward northern Palawan and the South China Sea. More than 300 flights were canceled, and rescue efforts continue, with several people still missing.

The Philippines, hit by about 20 tropical storms annually, has faced a series of recent natural disasters, including last September’s Super Typhoon Ragasa. Vietnam has placed its central provinces on high alert as Kalmaegi is forecast to make landfall there by Thursday night, following severe floods that already killed dozens in the region last week.