The death toll in the Philippines continues to rise after the passage of typhoon Kalmaegi, with more than 140 fatalities reported. Additionally, 127 individuals are still missing, and countless homes have been destroyed. The Civil Defense of the country confirmed 114 deaths, excluding 28 others reported by provincial authorities in Cebu.
Unprecedented floods hit villages and cities in Cebu this week, carrying away vehicles, shanties, and even large shipping containers. After leaving Philippine territory, Kalmaegi strengthened as it headed towards Vietnam, raising concerns of a landfall on Thursday night.
In Liloan, a town near Cebu City where 35 bodies were recovered from flooded areas, AFP journalists witnessed cars stacked on top of each other and roofs torn off buildings as residents struggled to clear mud. A woman with special needs was among the victims in Liloan, trapped in a room as her house flooded.
“We tried to open [her room door] with a knife and a lever, but it wouldn’t budge. Then, the refrigerator started to float,” shared Christine Aton, the victim’s sister. “I opened the window, and my father and I swam out. We cried because we wanted to save my older sister,” added the 29-year-old woman.
On the neighboring island of Negros, where at least 30 people died, the typhoon’s rainfall triggered a volcano landslide that buried homes in Canlaon City, as reported by Police Lieutenant Stephen Polinar to AFP.
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