Wed Nov 05 01:10:51 UTC 2025: ## Typhoon Kalmaegi Devastates Philippines, Death Toll Exceeds 100
MANILA, Philippines – November 5, 2025 – Typhoon Kalmaegi has left a trail of devastation across the central Philippines, with the death toll exceeding 100 as of Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Cebu province has been particularly hard hit, experiencing what residents are calling the worst flooding in recent memory.
Unprecedented floodwaters surged through towns and cities, sweeping away homes, vehicles, and even shipping containers. Rhon Ramos, a spokesman for Cebu, confirmed that 76 bodies have been recovered from the flooded areas of Liloan, a town within the Cebu City metro area.
On neighboring Negros Island, at least 12 deaths were reported in Canlaon City, with another 12 people missing after heavy rains triggered volcanic mudflows that buried homes. Lieutenant Stephen Polinar explained that volcanic material deposited by recent Kanlaon volcano eruptions was loosened by the torrential rain.
Residents of Cebu’s hardest-hit areas are struggling to clean up debris and rebuild their lives. Reynaldo Vergara, a shop owner in Mandaue, described the overwhelming force of the water, stating that he lost everything when a nearby river overflowed.
The area surrounding Cebu City received 183 mm of rain in the 24 hours leading up to Kalmaegi’s landfall, far exceeding its 131-millimeter monthly average.
Provincial governor Pamela Baricuatro described the situation as “unprecedented” and “devastating” on Tuesday, pointing to a possible link between the extensive damage and a recent corruption scandal involving alleged “ghost” flood-control projects. The governor suggested that missing flood infrastructure could have contributed to the severity of the flooding. “You begin to ask the question why we’re having terrible flash floods here when you have Ph26.6 billion ($452 million) for flood control projects,” she stated.
A spokesperson for the Department of Public Works and Highways confirmed that department head Vince Dizon is already in Cebu to inspect the damage.
Nearly 800,000 people were evacuated from the typhoon’s path. Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful due to climate change, with warmer oceans and atmospheres contributing to rapid intensification and heavier rainfall.
Kalmaegi is now moving westward over the South China Sea towards Vietnam, where authorities are bracing for potential compounding effects on areas already affected by severe flooding. The Philippines has already experienced its average of 20 storms and typhoons for the year, with at least three to five more expected before the end of December, according to weather specialist Charmagne Varilla.
First Piper 