Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, has left at least 66 dead, 26 missing and more than a million people affected after the great destruction caused public tissue, especially in the office of Civil Defense (OCD).
Diego A. Mariano, Deputy Spokesperson of the OCD organization, confirmed that 49 of the reported deaths are from Cebu, mainly due to the fall of dirt, accumulation, and flooding, and some incidents are still being investigated.
The death toll includes six military personnel who died on Tuesday in a helicopter crash in Agusan del Sur on the way to Butuan town.
The provinces of Bhol, Capiz, and Leyte each reported one, all caused by fallen trees.
Negros Island Region recorded seven deaths: Two were caused by falling debris and drowning, while the causes of five are still under investigation.
Mr. Mariano also said that 26 people are missing, 13 in CEBU and 13 in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
There were ten injuries reported as a result of falling debris and flooding, while the causes of the others are yet to be determined.
The typhoon was located about 330 kilometers east of Pag-Asa Island in the Kalayaan Islands, where there is a wind signal, right now, said PM weathermen in its 5 PM briefing.
It was packing 140 kilometers per hour (KPH) sustained winds, gusts up to 170 kph and moving west-northwest at 30 kph.
The Philippine Atmosperic, Geophysical and Astrological Services Administration (Pagasa) also placed Occidental Mindro including the islands of Lulang and Palawan including the islands of Calamian and Cuyo under wind signs No. 1.
“In the weather event, Tino will continue to move west-north over the West Philippine Sea and exit the Philippine area of commitment tonight or tomorrow (Nov. 6) morning,” Pagasa said.
“TinO is forecast to strengthen in the next 12 hours and may reach its maximum intensity while over the west Philippine Sea. “
Typhoon Kalmaegi affected more than 1.1 million people, or more than 318,000 million families, the National Disaster Reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC) in its 12 PM status report.
Most of the affected families were from Western Visayas (489,000), Caraga region (320,573), Eastern Visayas (171,20), and Central Visayas (104,619).
About 1.4 million families, mostly in parts of the visayas, also experienced power outages, according to the government.
In a virtual press conference on Wednesday, the underground power Feliix B. Fuentebella said that 1.4 million communications were affected due to the low areas involved in the cleaning of the storm.
“There is a tendency for combined disasters. We are still recovering from previous hurricanes and earthquakes, and now we have this pot,” said Mr. Fuentebella.
“However, it should not stop our agencies, our members from the power family to prepare and have quick recovery strategies,” he added.
Eric Catototo, who is in charge of the disaster management department at the National Electriefication Administration (NEA), said that there are 1.3 million consumer connections that have been restored to the areas used by the power sources.
The pre-NEA status report shows that there are 27 electric power stations (ECs) that are experiencing partial power outages and three that are experiencing total power outages.
“Regarding the refund of affected ECS, we are trying our best to refund all affected ECs by the end of the week,” said Mr Catopo.
Meanwhile, State Power Rower Corp. reported that approximately 110,000 homes were affected after 57 small power plants (scugs) were disrupted.
Mr. Fuentebella estimated that the affected homes translate to seven million energy consumers.
“I understand that about seven million people are not affected, but this is also a huge task. However, we want to assure you that we are working hard.
On Tuesday, the Energy Regulatory Commission (Erm) sent a temporary suspension of the operation of the Wholesale Spot market in the visayas grid market, under electricity, due to “more
The suspension went into effect on November 4 at 8 a.m. and will be lifted until erc approval is granted.
During market suspension, a fixed standard price is used for all electricity transactions, or a cap, if any.
“During the suspension of the market, the ert said the administrative price, or the price set by the market operator to the trading participants during the suspension of the market or market intervention, will be used.”
At that time, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, JR. will visit the Southern province of Cebu after the deadly deadly floods caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi, Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said.
He did not explain when the President will visit the province.
He added that preliminary data from the Department of Public Works and Floods (DPWH) shows that flood control projects have been completed in Cebu between 2016 and 2022, two of them.
Another 168 projects were launched between 2023 and 2025, including 55 that are ongoing.
The province is suffering from the bitter impact of Kalmaegi, which entered the Philippine territory last Sunday.
The Philippines, a country located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, is hit by about 20 typhoons a year. – Edg Adrian A. EVA, Sheldeen Joy Talavera and Chloe Mari A. Hufana
