Philippines reels after typhoon Kalmaegi's fury

CEBU:

Residents of the central Philippines on Wednesday began scraping mud from streets and homes that survived after Typhoon Kalmaegi killed at least 85 and left dozens missing as it tore through the region.

Scenes of destruction emerged in the hardest-hit province of Cebu, a major tourist hub, as floodwaters receded, revealing the scale of the damage: homes reduced to rubble, overturned vehicles, streets choked with debris, and lives upended.

In Cebu City, 58-year-old Marlon Enriquez tried to salvage what was left of his family's belongings as he scraped off the thick mud coating his house. "This was the first time that has happened to us. I've been living here for almost 16 years and it was the first time I've experienced flooding (like this)," he said.

But not everyone had homes to return to. In the neighbouring city of Talisay, 38-year-old Eilene Oken walked through what used to be her neighbourhood, only to find her home completely destroyed. "We worked and saved for this for years, then in an instant, it was all gone," she said, her voice breaking. But Oken said she remains grateful because her family, including her two daughters, were unharmed.

Among the 85 fatalities were six military personnel whose helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur on the island of Mindanao during a humanitarian mission. The disaster agency reported 75 people missing, and 17 injured.

The devastation from Kalmaegi, locally named Tino, comes just over a month after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck northern Cebu, killing dozens and displacing thousands. The storm submerged homes and caused widespread flooding and power outages.

More than 200,000 people were evacuated across the Visayas region, including parts of southern Luzon and northern Mindanao. Kalmaegi, the 20th storm to hit the Philippines, is forecast to gain strength while over the South China Sea.