Philippine Red Cross workers rescue residents stranded in heavy rains triggered by Typhoon Kalmaegi in Talamban, Cebu city, on November 4, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/VNA)
Local authorities said in Cebu alone, 21 people were now confirmed dead, most of whom drowned.
In the 24 hours before Kalmaegi's landfall, the area around provincial capital Cebu city was deluged with 183 millimetres of rain, well over its 131-millimetre monthly average.
Hundreds still living in tent cities after a 6.9-magnitude quake rocked the island in late September were evacuated for their own safety.
Late November 4 afternoon, the Philippine military confirmed that a helicopter deployed to assist relief efforts had crashed on northern Mindanao island.
The Super Huey helicopter went down while en route to the coastal city of Butuan in support of relief operations related to the powerful storm, Eastern Mindanao Command said in a statement, adding search and recovery operations were underway.
