By Sarah Sankel
Correspondent
The Philippines was struck by a deadly typhoon this week, leaving at least 114 dead and 127 missing. The country declared a state of emergency as the storm swept through low-lying areas, leaving communities vulnerable to the typhoon, according to the Washington Post.
The typhoon, dubbed Kalmaegi, was a deadly eastern cyclone that ravaged Southeast Asia. Typhoon season in that region is typically from June to October, with this typhoon being late but brutal.
The typhoon was estimated to be a Category 3 storm, according to the Washington Post. Winds were sustained at the high speed of 114 mph, with gusts reaching up to 137 mph, according to AP News.
The storm is even more devastating due to the lasting effects of the Cebu earthquake, which hit many of the same communities in September 2025, according to a US press release.
Over 560,000 residents were displaced, primarily due to the evacuations to emergency shelters that took place before the storm, according to the Washington Post.
The death count includes six crew members who were on a military helicopter that crashed during the storm after being deployed to assist in humanitarian efforts, according to BBC News.
Business owner Jel-an Moira Servas told the BBC that she was in waist-deep water within minutes when her house flooded. “Right now, the rain has completely stopped and the sun is out,” she said, “but our houses are still filled with mud, and everything inside is in shambles. We don’t even know where to start cleaning. I can’t even look at it without crying.”
Many other residents had similar experiences as their houses were quickly flooded, endangering the lives of inhabitants. Homes were submerged and cars were overturned, according to CNN World.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro of the city of Cebu said on Facebook, “We were expecting the winds to be the dangerous part, but… the water is what’s truly putting people at risk. The floodwaters are just devastating.”
After ravaging the Philippines, Typhoon Kalmaegi also hit parts of Thailand and Cambodia as it moved across the East China Sea. Many were evacuated, and three fishermen from Thailand were reported missing, according to AP News.
States and international organizations have rushed to provide the Philippines with humanitarian aid. The United States Government pledged to provide $1 million for “immediate life-saving assistance” in areas hit by the storm.
The United Nations has similarly given $6 million and sent five agencies to the areas hit by the storm in order to deliver “food, health, shelter, protection, cash assistance, water, sanitation, and hygiene.” Although it will be a long process, many hope that such funds and relief services will aid the country’s recovery from the deadly typhoon.
