MANILA, Philippines — In response to the devastating impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a state of emergency on Thursday. The typhoon, which has been the deadliest natural disaster in the country this year, has claimed at least 114 lives, with an additional 127 individuals reported missing. The majority of the fatalities were caused by drowning in flash floods, particularly in the central province of Cebu. The tropical cyclone, which affected nearly 2 million people, displaced over 560,000 villagers, including nearly 450,000 who sought refuge in emergency shelters. The typhoon exited the archipelago on Wednesday, moving into the South China Sea. During a meeting with disaster-response officials to evaluate the aftermath, President Marcos emphasized that the emergency declaration would expedite the disbursement of emergency funds and curb food hoarding and overpricing. This measure aims to provide swift relief to the affected communities and ensure the stability of essential supplies in the wake of the disaster.
Philippines declares a state of emergency after typhoon left at least 241 people dead and missing
