Typhoon Karmaegi struck the Philippines on Tuesday, bringing with it fierce winds reaching 190 miles per hour and significant rainfall.
On Thursday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a “state of national disaster” following reports of 114 fatalities and 127 individuals still unaccounted for.
Known locally as “Tino,” Typhoon Karmaegi has been described as the most catastrophic natural event in the Philippines this year, happening shortly after a major earthquake of magnitude 6.9 on September 30 that resulted in at least 79 deaths. This was one of multiple recent disasters, including two powerful typhoons earlier in September, one being classified as a “super typhoon.”
The storm led to unexpected flash floods in areas still recovering from the earthquake. According to civil defense officials, the majority of confirmed casualties resulted from flooding, with at least 71 deaths reported in central Cebu. Other fatalities were linked to various factors, including fallen trees and landslides.
Additionally, six of the confirmed deaths occurred when a military rescue helicopter crashed while attempting a rescue in Mindanao, south of Cebu. The search and rescue team was able to recover the bodies of the pilot and crew.
Relief officials indicated that more than 400,000 people had been evacuated due to the storm, many from locations where muddy waters surged rapidly. Survivors shared how they perched atop their submerged homes, witnessing cars and debris drift along the swiftly moving floodwaters.
Typhoon Karmaegi is expected to make landfall in Vietnam on Thursday evening, bringing winds of 90 mph. Three fishermen were reported missing after their boat was swept away by high tides.
Vietnamese officials noted that over 537,000 people had been evacuated because of flooding linked to Karmaegi, with many needing boat rescues from areas inundated with over two feet of rain. Ho Chi Minh City was placed under a flood alert on Thursday.
Looking ahead, another significant storm is approaching the Philippines, now identified as Tropical Storm Funwon. Meteorologists warn it could intensify into a typhoon—or even a super typhoon—before hitting Luzon on Monday.
