National Emergency Declared in the Philippines as Typhoon Kalmaegi Claims 140 Lives, 127 Missing

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Philippines has declared a national emergency after Typhoon Kalmaegi caused widespread devastation across several regions. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. officially declared the storm a national disaster, following a recommendation from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

According to reports from Xinhua News Agency, the typhoon has so far claimed 140 lives, while 127 people remain missing. Thousands of families have been displaced, and large-scale rescue and relief operations are underway.

President Marcos said, “Considering the devastation caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi (locally known as Tino) and the potential impact of the approaching Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong), we are declaring Kalmaegi a national disaster as per the NDRRMC’s recommendation.”

The NDRRMC reported that the typhoon has affected more than 500,000 families and over 19 million citizens across the country. Meanwhile, the Philippines faces another looming threat from Typhoon Fung-Wong (Uwan), which is expected to impact the nation later this week.

Kalmaegi, the 20th typhoon of the year, has now moved toward Vietnam after leaving a trail of destruction in the Philippines. Before the formal declaration of emergency, President Marcos held a high-level meeting with NDRRMC officials to assess the situation and coordinate relief measures.

Authorities remain on high alert as rescue teams continue to search for those missing and deliver essential supplies to the affected regions. The government has also conducted damage assessments to prepare for the potential impact of the next storm.