Typhoon Kalmaegi kills 140 in Philippines, heads to Vietnam

Typhoon Kalmaegi caused 140 fatalities and left 127 others unaccounted for after triggering record flooding across the central Philippines, officials reported Thursday. The storm system moved toward Vietnam, where it threatened to worsen existing flood conditions that already claimed 47 lives this week.

Rescue operations continued in Cebu province, where raging floodwaters swept away vehicles, homes, and shipping containers. National authorities confirmed 114 deaths while Cebu officials reported an additional 28 casualties. Emergency crews recovered 35 bodies in Liloan alone as residents cleared mud and debris. The national civil defense office noted six military personnel died when their relief helicopter crashed. Scientists attribute intensifying storms to climate change, with warmer oceans fueling rapid typhoon development and heavier rainfall. Nearly 800,000 people evacuated ahead of Kalmaegi’s path. Vietnamese officials warned of dangerous storm surges and eight-meter waves as the typhoon approached coastal regions late Thursday.