Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a national state of calamity after Typhoon Kalmaegi caused severe flooding and killed at least 114 people.
The storm, one of the year’s strongest, flooded entire towns on the populous island of Cebu, which reported 71 fatalities.
Officials confirmed an additional 127 people are missing and 82 are injured.
President Marcos Jr. stated the declaration was due to the extensive damage and in anticipation of another incoming storm.
The decree grants government agencies expanded powers to access emergency funds and accelerate relief efforts.
The national disaster agency reported that over 400,000 people were displaced.
Local officials and rescuers described the flooding as “unprecedented” and “overwhelming,” noting that most deaths were due to drowning.
BBC/Maxwell Oyekunle
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