Typhoon Kalmaegi: Philippine air force chopper crashes during rescue; five missing

A Philippine Air Force helicopter carrying five people crashed on Monday (local time) while heading to deliver aid in areas hit by Typhoon Kalmaegi. The Super Huey aircraft went down near Loreto town in Agusan del Sur province in the country’s south.

Search and rescue operations are underway to locate the missing personnel, according to the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command.Typhoon Kalmaegi has triggered severe flooding and widespread damage in the country. The typhoon, packing winds of up to 130 kilometres per hour and gusts reaching 180 kph, was last tracked near Jordan town in Guimaras province. It is expected to move towards the South China Sea by late Tuesday or early Wednesday after passing over Palawan.

Aftermath of flooding caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi in Cebu city, central Philippines (AP photo) At least five deaths have been reported so far. One elderly man drowned in Southern Leyte, another person was killed by a falling tree in Bohol, and three people died in Cebu province amid flash floods. Power cuts, submerged cars, and stranded residents have been reported across the central Philippines. Philippine Red Cross secretary-general Gwendolyn Pang said several residents were trapped on their rooftops in Cebu’s coastal areas.

“We have received many calls for help, but we can’t reach them until the water level goes down,” she said. Over 387,000 people have been evacuated, 186 flights cancelled, and more than 3,500 ferry passengers stranded. Typhoon Kalmaegi comes just weeks after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Cebu, worsening conditions in one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations.