Typhoon Kalmaegi, the greatest natural catastrophe to hit the Philippines in 2025, has left at least 188 persons dead and 135 missing. To speed up relief efforts and raise emergency money, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. proclaimed a state of emergency on Thursday. Nearly 560,000 people were relocated, and almost 2 million were affected by the typhoon, which pounded the central provinces before heading into the South China Sea.

Cebu, a region already damaged by a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in late September, was hit hardest by the typhoon’s fury. As families struggled to reach safety amid rising seas and strong winds, the crisis was worsened by flash floods, landslides, and crumbling infrastructure.

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Central Province Hit Hardest by the Storm

The majority of Typhoon Kalmaegi’s devastation fell on Cebu, which is home to more than 2.4 million people. Rivers and waterways overflowed, flooding entire neighborhoods, officials said. Desperate families sought assistance from rooftops and higher ground, as rescue efforts continued late into the night.

Key Impacts in Cebu and Nearby Provinces:

• Landslides and flash floods: At least 49 people perished from drowning, and many died from falling objects.
• Infrastructure collapsed: In low-lying places, homes and bridges were washed away or drowned.
• Communication disruptions: Rescue coordination was hampered by damaged cell towers and power cables.
• Evacuations: Throughout the central provinces, more than 450,000 people were kept in emergency shelters.
• Air and sea travel disrupted: Communication by air and sea was interrupted, with 3,500 passengers stuck at ports and 186 domestic flights cancelled.

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Governor Pamela Baricuatro described the flash floods as the worst in decades and acknowledged their “unpredictable scale.” Caloy Ramirez, a volunteer rescuer, reported seeing “utter chaos,” with homes and cars being washed away in a matter of minutes.

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Concerns Grow Over Flood Control and Disaster Preparedness

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Residents and officials expressed growing annoyance over corruption scandals linked to poor infrastructure projects and inefficient flood control systems. Cebu’s metropolitan districts became catastrophe zones due to flooding exacerbated by several rivers blocked by quarrying and inadequate drainage.

Key Issues Highlighted by the Typhoon Kalmaegi:

• Substandard flood projects: Inadequate or defective infrastructure resulted from years of corruption.
• River siltation: Water flow capacity decreased due to quarrying and trash disposal.
• Urban expansion: The effects were exacerbated by poor design in flood-prone areas.
• Need for stronger coordination: Stronger coordination is required because the tragedy revealed structural flaws in disaster response.

Despite the declaration of a state of calamity in Cebu and its neighboring provinces, emergency personnel are still looking for missing individuals and restoring vital services. Southeast Asia prepares for more extreme weather as Kalmaegi approaches Vietnam and Thailand, serving as a sobering reminder of the region’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters.

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