Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued a state of national emergency following the devastation caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi, which has resulted in at least 114 fatalities and left hundreds unaccounted for in the country’s central provinces.
The disaster stands as the most severe natural catastrophe the Philippines has faced in 2025 along with the earthquake in September.
The majority of deaths were attributed to flash floods, with 127 individuals still missing, particularly in Cebu—one of the most affected provinces—after the tropical cyclone pummeled the region before moving into the South China Sea on Wednesday.
The Office of Civil Defense reported that nearly 2 million people were impacted by the typhoon, and more than 560,000 residents were forced from their homes. Among them, close to 450,000 are currently sheltering in emergency evacuation centers.
Marcos enacted the state of calamity after meeting with disaster-response officials to assess damage and coordinate relief efforts. The declaration is designed to enable the rapid release of emergency funds, as well as measures to curb food hoarding and prevent price manipulation in the wake of the storm’s destruction.
Officials caution that while the country contends with the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi in the central region, there are new threats on the horizon: a weather disturbance forming over the Pacific could intensify into a super typhoon and potentially strike the northern Philippines early next week.