A powerful typhoon has ravaged the central Philippines, killing at least 52 people and displacing nearly 400,000 others in what officials describe as an unprecedented natural disaster.
Typhoon Kalmaegi, also known locally as Tino, made landfall across the Visayas islands, causing extensive damage and widespread flooding. Cebu island, a major population center, has been the hardest hit, accounting for the majority of fatalities.
On November 4, 2025, Philippine authorities reported that an additional 13 people remained missing in the storm’s aftermath. Thousands of homes have been destroyed or submerged, leaving entire communities covered in thick mud.
Pamela Baricuatro, the Governor of Cebu province, declared a state of calamity. She highlighted the critical need for urgent aid and emergency funds, calling the devastation “a situation never before witnessed.”
Rescue teams are navigating inundated areas by boat to extract residents trapped inside their homes. Survivors reported fleeing to rooftops as floodwaters rapidly rose, engulfing vehicles and even shipping containers.
Disaster prevention agencies have initiated efforts to locate the missing, provide assistance to those rendered homeless, and conduct rapid assessments of infrastructure damage.
The Philippine meteorological agency stated that the typhoon has begun to weaken since making landfall. However, it continues to generate strong winds exceeding 130 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour).
The storm is projected to move across the Visayas into the South China Sea. It is expected to proceed towards Vietnam, a nation already experiencing record levels of heavy rainfall.