The toll from Typhoon Karmaegi in the Philippines has climbed to 114, with 127 individuals still unaccounted for, as reported by the disaster response agency on Thursday. The storm, which severely impacted the central regions of the country, has regained strength and is now advancing towards Vietnam.
In Vietnam’s Gia Lai province, about 350,000 people have been evacuated by midday. Authorities have issued warnings regarding potential damage from heavy rains and strong winds, which might flood low-lying areas and hinder agricultural activities.
Cebu, the province hardest hit by the typhoon, revealed the extent of the devastation as floodwaters receded, laying bare collapsed homes, overturned vehicles, and roads choked with debris.
Before Karmaegi hit on Tuesday, more than 200,000 people were evacuated from areas in the Philippines.
Many residents returned only to find their homes in ruins, while others began the slow process of cleaning up, scraping mud from their properties and the streets.
“Our main task is clearing the debris… It’s crucial to do this quickly, not only to find those who may still be trapped, but also to advance with relief operations,” said Civil Defense official Raffy Alejandro during an interview with DZBB radio.
A new storm develops
Although Typhoon Karmaegi, also called Tino locally, has moved out of the Philippine monitoring zone, meteorologists are keeping an eye on another storm forming east of Mindanao, which could potentially develop into a typhoon by early next week.
The devastation from Karmaegi, the 20th storm to strike the Philippines this year, follows closely on the heels of a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit northern Cebu just over a month ago, resulting in numerous fatalities and displacing many.
As Karmaegi moves through the South China Sea and regains strength, several central provinces are bracing for its impact, particularly major coffee-producing areas that are currently in their harvest period.
Authorities are deploying thousands of soldiers to assist with evacuation, rescue, and recovery efforts as needed.
Vietnam’s aviation authority has announced that operations at eight airports, including Da Nang International Airport, could be affected. Airlines and local officials are being urged to monitor the storm’s development closely to ensure passenger safety.
