Typhoon Kalmaegi, the 20th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, has caused widespread devastation, leaving 114 people dead and at least 127 missing. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported the grim statistics as the storm moved out of the country before dawn on Thursday. The majority of the fatalities and missing persons were reported in the central regions of the Philippines. OCD Deputy Administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro confirmed the death toll, stating that the figures are based on actual body counts from five affected regions. He emphasized that the numbers are preliminary and await official death certificates. The search for the missing continues, with 65 individuals from Cebu province and 62 from the Negros Island region still unaccounted for. The typhoon’s impact underscores the Philippines’ vulnerability to extreme weather events, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.