Typhoon Kalmaegi: Over 100 dead and chaos in the Philippines!

Typhoon Kalmaegi: Over 100 dead and chaos in the Philippines!

The haunting images from the Philippines hit us to the core. Typhoon Kalmaegi, also known as Tino, has caused devastating damage in the eastern and central regions. According to Radiokoeln.de, the number of deaths has risen to at least 114 and 127 people are still missing. More than half a million people have lost their homes, making this disaster one of the worst flood disasters in recent years.

As much rain fell in a single night as is usually the case in an entire month. The provinces of Cebu, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental were hit particularly hard. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. immediately declared a national state of disaster. Rescue teams everywhere are working around the clock to find missing people and make roads passable again. The deputy head of civil defense, Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro, reported major challenges in clearing the rubble, which is significantly delaying rescue operations.

Destruction and chaos

The violence of the typhoon is indescribable. In Cebu City, cars were piled on top of each other or thrown onto rooftops by the floods. Reports from the coastal town of Liloan show residents were trapped on rooftops. In Mandaue the water was up to many people's necks. The effects are dramatic and the situation remains tense. The first deaths were also recorded in Southern Leyte province: two people drowned and another was hit by a falling tree.

In Negros Occidental, gusts of up to 195 km/h were recorded, according to the national weather service Pagasa. In the next 36 hours, residents must expect life-threatening storm surges of over three meters high. Mandatory evacuations have already been ordered from Eastern Samar, while tens of thousands of residents of vulnerable coastal regions have been evacuated to safety.

Willingness of aid organizations

The situation reminds many of Typhoon Haiyan, the strongest storm ever to hit the Philippines and killing more than 6,300 people in 2013. Over 13 million people were affected there and the destruction was also devastating. Aktion Deutschland Hilft immediately mobilized 15 alliance organizations to provide emergency aid. The assistance provided included food, clean drinking water and medical support for those affected.

The news situation remains confusing. As Kalmaegi moves toward Vietnam, a new tropical storm, Fung-Wong, is just around the corner. Meteorologists warn that it could quickly gain strength and possibly reach the category of a super typhoon.

The Philippines faces about 20 typhoons per year, and each brings its own challenges. Civilians must increasingly adapt to these forces of nature and accept outside help, while we find all possible ways to offer our support in difficult times.

Current events require our compassion and it is up to us to help those affected where we can.

You can find more information at Radiokoeln.de, Action Germany Helps and Zeit.de.