Typhoon Kalmaegi has killed at least 66 people in the Philippines, the civil defence office said on Wednesday, as residents began picking through homes and businesses devastated by flooding.

"It was the major cities that got hit (with floods), highly urbanised areas," civil defence office deputy administrator Rafaelito Alejandro told local radio, adding that 49 of those killed were in the worst-hit Cebu province.

Among the fatalities were six military personnel whose helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur on the island of Mindanao during a humanitarian mission.

Scenes of devastation emerged in the province of Cebu, a major tourist hub, as floodwaters receded, revealing destroyed homes, overturned vehicles, and widespread debris.

The devastation from Kalmaegi, locally named Tino, comes just over a month after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Cebu, killing dozens and displacing thousands.

Kalmaegi, which has weakened after making landfall early on Tuesday, is forecast to regain strength while over the South China Sea, state weather PAGASA said in its latest bulletin.

More than 200,000 people were evacuated across the Visayas region, including parts of southern Luzon and northern Mindanao, ahead of a storm that submerged homes and caused widespread flooding and power outages.

Packing winds of 120 kph and gusts of up to 165 kph, Kalmaegi, the 20th storm to hit the Philippines this year, is heading towards Vietnam where preparations are underway ahead of its expected landfall on Friday.

In September, Super Typhoon Ragasa swept across northern Luzon, forcing schools and government offices to shut down as it brought fierce winds and torrential rain. (Agencies)
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Last updated: 2025-11-05 HKT 09:49