The devastating impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi has left at least 26 people dead in the central Philippines, according to the country’s civil defence office. The storm, which caused widespread flooding, has particularly affected Cebu province, where 21 of the fatalities were reported. Rafaelito Alejandro, the deputy administrator of civil defence, confirmed that most of the victims succumbed to drowning. ‘Based on the information we have, most of them died from drowning,’ Alejandro stated in a phone interview with AFP. The typhoon has inundated multiple towns, leaving communities grappling with the aftermath. Rescue and relief operations are underway as authorities work to assist those affected by the disaster. The incident underscores the vulnerability of the Philippines to extreme weather events, which are becoming increasingly frequent and severe due to climate change.