A devastating Typhoon Kalmaegi struck the central Philippines on Tuesday, resulting in at least one fatality and displacing tens of thousands of residents. The storm’s powerful winds and heavy rainfall caused severe flooding, submerging vehicles and forcing people to seek refuge on the upper levels of their homes, particularly in areas that are still recovering from a recent earthquake.
Images shared on social media, which have been authenticated, depict streets in Cebu Island completely inundated with floodwaters, while residents desperately try to reach safer ground. One particularly striking video shows a man in a red safety vest navigating the flooded streets on a paddleboard to assist those in distress.
Monique Haeyn Rosario, a 28-year-old resident of Cebu City living with her toddler and extended family near the Butuanon River, described her harrowing experience. “We were marooned inside our house and rushed to the second floor,” she recounted in a phone interview, noting that the river began to rise sharply around 5 a.m. on Tuesday. She estimated the floodwaters surrounding her home reached heights of up to 10 feet.
In the wake of the disaster, Rosario expressed gratitude for the aid being provided by local authorities but is pleading for additional support. “I am appealing for food, and most importantly water and dry clothes and medicines,” she stated, emphasizing the urgent needs of those affected by the calamity.
As the region grapples with the aftermath of Typhoon Kalmaegi, efforts are underway to provide relief to those in dire situations. This shows the resilience and solidarity of communities as they come together during challenging times.