Manila [Philippines]/Hanoi [Vietnam], November 6 (ANI): Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Thursday declared a state of emergency after Typhoon Kalmaegi left at least 114 people dead in the country, local media reported.
The emergency was declared following the destruction caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi, known locally as Tino, and in anticipation of Tropical Storm Fung-wong, which is expected to enter the Philippines as a typhoon and will be given the local name Uwan over the weekend. It may intensify into a super typhoon, the Philippine News Agency reported, adding that it is expected to make landfall in northern or central Luzon on November 10, possibly at or near peak intensity.
Marcos said the declaration, made on the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), would enable faster access to calamity funds, impose price controls on essential goods, and streamline procurement and relief operations.
Typhoon Kalmaegi is forecast to move west-northwest and make landfall over central Vietnam on Thursday night, according to the Vietnam News Agency. The country’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned that water levels are expected to rise by 0.3 to 0.6 meters in coastal areas from Hue City to Dak Lak Province. By 1 a.m. on November 7 (local time), the typhoon is expected to make landfall along the coast from Quang Ngai to Dak Lak, sustaining winds at Level 12 with gusts up to Level 15, while continuing west-northwest at about 25 km/h.
Heavy rainfall is forecast for several areas, including the central coastal region, the Central Highlands, and the southern region, with risks of flash floods on small rivers and streams, landslides on slopes, and flooding in low-lying urban and industrial areas, the Vietnamese meteorological department said.
In the Philippines, the Cebu region was among the hardest hit by Typhoon Kalmaegi, accounting for 71 of the 114 confirmed deaths and reporting widespread flooding and landslides across several towns and cities. The region is still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake on September 30, which displaced thousands and killed at least 79 people.
Typhoon Kalmaegi exited the Philippine area of responsibility at 12:30 a.m. (local time). At 4 a.m. today, the typhoon was located 265 km north-northwest of Palawan Island, packing winds of 155 km per hour and gusts up to 190 km per hour. It is moving west-northwest at 35 km/h, according to PAGASA, the country’s weather bureau.
Neighboring Malaysia has expressed condolences to the people of the Philippines over the loss of lives caused by the typhoon.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and extensive devastation caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines. Reports of severe flooding, landslides, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure are heartbreaking. On behalf of the government and people of Malaysia, I extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to all those affected by this tragedy,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in a statement posted on X.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of the Philippines as they begin to rebuild their communities,” Anwar added. (ANI)
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