Typhoon Kalmaegi: 66 People Dead In Philippines

Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi), the 20th cyclone to hit the country this year, has left 66 dead and 26 missing, with Cebu province bearing the brunt of the devastation from heavy rains, landslides, and flooding.

November 5, 2025: Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally named Tino, has carved a path of widespread destruction through the central Philippines, resulting in at least 66 fatalities and leaving dozens missing, according to the latest figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

The powerful storm made its eighth landfall at 8 a.m. local time today in El Nido, Palawan island, and is currently moving west-northwestward into the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reports the typhoon is packing maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h and gustiness of up to 180 km/h. It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Cebu is Hardest Hit

The Central Visayas region, particularly Cebu province, accounts for the majority of the casualties.

• Fatalities: Of the 66 reported deaths, 49 were from Cebu alone, primarily attributed to fallen debris, landslides, and widespread flooding.
• Missing Persons: The NDRRMC has recorded 26 people missing, with 13 in Cebu and 13 in La Castella, Negros Occidental.

The typhoon’s devastation comes barely a week after the Cebu area was still reeling from a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck on October 30.

Tragedy Strikes Military Relief Effort

The death toll tragically includes six crew members of a Philippine Air Force (PAF) Super Huey helicopter. The aircraft crashed on Tuesday afternoon on Mindanao island in Agusan del Sur while it was deployed to assist with disaster relief efforts in the storm-battered regions. The PAF confirmed that the two pilots and four aircrew members perished in the crash.

Widespread Impact and Foreign Alert

Typhoon Tino has battered a large part of the Visayas, Mindanao, and Southern Luzon, affecting some 706,000 people. Over 348,000 people sought shelter in evacuation centers across the affected regions.

PAGASA warns that heavy rains, severe winds, and life-threatening storm surges exceeding 3 meters are likely over Palawan and nearby low-lying coastal areas within the next 24 hours as the typhoon re-intensifies over the sea.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is bracing for the storm, which is forecast to move its way after exiting the Philippines. The Vietnamese government has requested neighboring countries to facilitate Vietnamese vessels seeking shelter and repairs.