At least 58 people have been killed in the Philippines after Typhoon Kalmaegi, known locally as Tino, battered large parts of the country with powerful winds and torrential rain. Authorities said the storm is now moving toward the South China Sea, with continued threats of flooding and landslides.

According to Reuters, six military personnel were among the dead after their helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur, Mindanao, during a humanitarian relief mission. Thirteen others remain missing as rescue teams struggle to reach isolated areas cut off by damaged roads and communications.

Kalmaegi, packing sustained winds of 120 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 165 kilometres per hour, is the 20th tropical cyclone to strike the Philippines this year. The storm caused widespread destruction, flattening homes, uprooting trees, and knocking out electricity in several provinces.

The disaster struck just a month after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in northern Cebu that killed dozens and left thousands homeless, compounding the humanitarian crisis across the archipelago. Relief operations are ongoing, but officials warn that resources are stretched thin due to consecutive natural disasters.

Government agencies have urged residents in coastal and low-lying regions to remain vigilant as Kalmaegi continues westward toward Vietnam, potentially intensifying over open waters. Schools and offices remain closed in several areas while evacuation centres shelter thousands of displaced families.

Meteorologists from PAGASA, the national weather bureau, say the storm could weaken slightly as it exits Philippine territory but may still bring dangerous seas and heavy rainfall to neighbouring countries.

International aid groups, including the Red Cross and UN agencies, are coordinating with local authorities to deliver emergency supplies and assist communities affected by one of the region's deadliest storms this year.

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