Manila: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has declared a state of emergency after Typhoon Kalmaegi left at least 241 people dead or missing, making it the country’s deadliest disaster of the year. The powerful storm triggered widespread flooding and landslides across central provinces, particularly in Cebu and Negros Occidental, affecting nearly two million people and displacing over 5,60,000 villagers. Around 4,50,000 of them sought refuge in emergency shelters, according to the Associated Press.

As floodwaters began to recede, the scale of devastation became clearer homes were flattened, vehicles overturned, and entire streets were buried under thick mud and debris. Officials said clearing operations are critical both to locate the 127 missing persons and to reopen access to is

See Full Page