Today's Edition
LILOAN (AFP)
Typhoon Kalmaegi killed at least 140 people and left another 127 missing after unleashing devastating flooding across the central Philippines, official figures showed Thursday, as the storm headed towards Vietnam.
Floodwaters described as unprecedented rushed through Cebu province's towns and cities this week, sweeping away cars, riverside shanties, and even massive shipping containers.
The national civil defence office confirmed on Thursday 114 reported deaths, though that tally did not include an additional 28 recorded by Cebu provincial authorities.
Police Lieutenant Stephen Polinar told AFP on Wednesday, "Eruptions of Kanlaon volcano since last year deposited volcanic material on its upper sections. When the rain fell, those deposits rumbled down onto the villages."
The national death tally included six crew members of a military helicopter that crashed while on a typhoon relief mission.
