e president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has declared a state of emergency in the island nation after Typhoon Kalmaegi swept through from Saturday until today, leaving at least 114 dead, 82 injured, and 127 missing. He said he made the decision because of the damage already caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi and in anticipation of another storm, Wan, which is expected to hit the country over the weekend.
Most of the victims died from drowning, particularly on the island of Cebu, the most populous island in the region with about two million residents and the one hit hardest by the typhoon. Around 560,000 residents were displaced, with 450,000 of them relocated to shelters, at a time when the island has still not recovered from the damage caused by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in late September, which left 79 people dead.
The typhoon is expected to hit central Vietnam later today, with more than 50 flights already canceled or postponed.
It is the 20th and most destructive typhoon to strike the country this year, just one month after two consecutive storms caused dozens of deaths and widespread damage to infrastructure and crops. At the same time, it comes amid a corruption scandal over inadequate flood protection projects that has triggered mass protests across the country.
Kalmaegi has now moved away from the Philippines and is expected to hit central Vietnam later today, as Vietnam has already experienced a week of unprecedented rainfall that has caused river overflows and flooding in some of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.
Sources:
BBC, Guardian
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