Philippines begins cleanup as Typhoon Kalmaegi death toll hits 85

"Residents say the powerful storm brought raging' flash floods that destroyed homes, overturned cars and blocked streets. Residents of the central Philippines have slowly begun cleanup efforts after powerful Typhoon Kalmaegi swept through the region, killing at least 85 people and leaving dozens missing. Scenes of widescale destruction emerged in the hard-hit province of Cebu on Wednesday as the storm receded, revealing ravaged homes, overturned vehicles and streets blocked with piles of debris."

"Among the 85 deaths were six military personnel whose helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur on the island of Mindanao during a humanitarian mission. The country's disaster agency also reported 75 people missing, and 17 injured. In Cebu City, Marlon Enriquez, 58, was trying to salvage what was left of his family's belongings as he scraped off the thick mud coating his house."

"Another resident, 53-year-old Reynaldo Vergara, said his small shop in the city of Mandaue, also in Cebu province, had been lost when a nearby river overflowed. Around four or five in the morning, the water was so strong that you couldn't even step outside, he told the AFP news agency. Nothing like this has ever happened. The water was raging. The storm hit as Cebu province was still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake last month that killed dozens of people and displaced thousands."

Powerful Typhoon Kalmaegi brought raging flash floods across central Philippines, destroying homes, overturning vehicles, and blocking streets with debris. At least 85 people were killed, including six military personnel whose helicopter crashed during a humanitarian mission; 75 people remain missing and 17 were injured. Cebu province suffered widescale destruction and deluge, receiving 183mm of rain in 24 hours. Residents reported unprecedented flooding and began cleanup and salvage efforts amid thick mud and lost businesses. The storm struck while the region was still recovering from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that killed dozens and displaced thousands.

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