by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
MANILA/CEBU CITY (Worthy News) – The death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, climbed sharply Tuesday as at least 26 people were confirmed dead and hundreds of thousands displaced across the central Philippines, authorities said.
Floodwaters trapped residents on rooftops and submerged cars, including in Cebu, one of the country’s main central islands and provinces, Worthy News learned.
“Cebu is a mess now. It’s my second time experiencing super typhoons here like Odette, but this time is different,” said Christian aid worker Merry Joy Osman, speaking from Cebu City.
She urged prayers as “all-in-one flooding is everywhere.”
“Landslides have damaged a boarding home,” added the mother of one. “Thanks God [my young daughter] Ash and I are safe,” Osman told Worthy News.
HELICOPTER CRASH DURING RELIEF MISSION
She spoke while news emerged that relief efforts were strenuous as a Philippine Air Force Super Huey helicopter with five personnel on board crashed Tuesday in southern Agusan del Sur province while flying to deliver humanitarian aid to storm-hit regions, the military confirmed.
The aircraft went down near Loreto town, and search operations were ongoing, the Eastern Mindanao Command said. Officials did not immediately release the condition of those aboard or the cause of the crash.
Amid the devastation, there were also signs of hope:
The Archdiocese of Cebu, under Archbishop Alberto Uy, directed parish priests to open church buildings as temporary shelters for families displaced by flooding, according to an official statement released Tuesday.
The Archdiocese asked parishes unaffected by structural damage from last month’s earthquake to host evacuees and coordinate with local authorities, a reminder of the Catholic Church’s influence in this heavily Catholic nation.
WIDESPREAD FLOODING AND RESCUE EFFORTS
Videos verified by Worthy News and posted on DZRH Radio’s page on social media outlet Facebook showed entire neighborhoods in Talisay City, south of Cebu, submerged with only rooftops visible.
Other footage captured residents along Consolacion Highway banding together to rescue a cow swept away by raging floodwaters.
Authorities said torrential rains, strong winds, and storm surges forced more than 387,000 people from their homes across the Visayas region and neighboring provinces.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed the 26 fatalities, warning that the toll could rise as rescue teams reach isolated communities.
20TH TYPHOON OF THE YEAR
Kalmaegi made landfall early Tuesday with sustained winds of about 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour) and gusts up to 185 kilometers per hour (115 miles per hour), said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Flights and ferry services were suspended, and widespread power outages were reported in Cebu, Negros Occidental, and Leyte.
PAGASA said the storm — the 20th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year — was expected to move westward across the Visayas and exit into the South China Sea by Wednesday while maintaining typhoon strength.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
Senate Democrats on March 26 unanimously rejected a Republican-backed amendment to the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act that would have required voters to present photo identification to cast a ballot, marking another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over election integrity.
Senate Republicans are urging Donald Trump to consider declaring a national emergency to ensure Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are paid, as a funding standoff over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) threatens to disrupt travel during the busy spring holiday season, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is now actively focused on “dismantling Hezbollah” as part of its broader campaign against Iran, declaring the military effort remains “in full swing” despite reports suggesting otherwise.
Meta and YouTube are appealing a $6 million-plus ruling that held them liable for social media addiction.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is extending a temporary halt on U.S. strikes targeting Iranian energy infrastructure by an additional 10 days, signaling a continued window for diplomacy amid an escalating conflict.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a forceful message during a cabinet meeting this week, declaring that Iran is at its “weakest point” even as its leadership continues aggressive actions across the region.
American churches and mission groups are preparing to bring millions of Bibles and other Christian literature into Iran despite the ongoing war in the region, Christians familiar with the plans say.