When Typhoon Kalmaegi struck the central Philippines last week, the toll was enormous. It has tragically claimed more than 50 lives and forced hundreds of thousands of local people to evacuate. Video by Interaksyon Typhoon Kammuri came ashore with winds of at least 120 kilometers per hour. It spun off winds of up to 165 kilometers per hour and pelted the island with torrential rains, causing catastrophic flooding across the region.
The central province of Cebu was severely affected by the storm. It produced an unbelievable 183 mm (7.2 inches) of rainfall over its 24 hour lifetime before landfall! Local authorities have declared a state of calamity in Cebu to facilitate the swift allocation of emergency funds and resources to aid those affected.
Human Toll and Displacement
While the storm was battering the country, at least 52 people were confirmed dead and the government had 13 others declared missing. Almost 400,000 citizens evacuated their residences in preparation for the super typhoon’s arrival. The sheer breadth of the displacement portended disaster. The intense amount of rain flooded numerous communities, forcing families and children to evacuate and find safety in evacuation centers.
Local resident Don del Rosario expressed his despair, stating, “I’ve been here for 28 years, and this is by far the worst we’ve experienced.” His words are a testament to those who have endured unthinkable hardships from the storm’s severity, especially for those caught in Hurricane Ian’s path.
Many who lived through it referred to the devastation caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi as the worst they’d experienced in decades—the wrath of God. Beyond its human toll, the cost to infrastructure brought on by this storm has been catastrophic, with whole communities still unable to return home.
Emergency Response Efforts
In the wake of the crisis, the federal government has called on significant and rapid resources for emergency response operations. Four UN helicopters were immediately put into operation to deliver badly needed aid and assess the humanitarian impact on the ground. A helicopter with five passengers on board crashed while enroute to Butuan, a coastal city in northern Mindanao. The incident caused serious injuries to both pilots and four other crew members on the aircraft.
The crash highlighted the dangers that emergency crews encountered as they heroically toiled to save lives during the calamity. Even with such failures, both local and national agencies are dedicated to helping those communities that have been impacted since day one.
Weather Patterns and Future Risks
Typhoon Kalmaegi should not be a one-off experience. It follows a rash of catastrophic storms that struck the Philippines in September. These extreme weather patterns raise alarm bells for climate change. They further point out its role in the increasing intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes affecting the region.
Meteorological professionals have warned us to stay alert, as there are similar storms that could threaten us too. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned communities to be on the lookout for more weather disturbances.
