The death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi that has hit the Philippines since Sunday has climbed to 188, with 135 more missing, the country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Friday, Reuters reports.
Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos declared a state of national calamity due to widespread destruction caused by Kalmaegi and in preparation for the impact of a possible super typhoon, local media reported Thursday.
Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in the Philippines on Tuesday, triggering massive flooding that submerged houses up to the roofs, swept away countless cars, and displaced thousands of villagers.
As of 06:00 on Friday, torrential rains from the typhoon triggered widespread flooding in 123 areas across the country, damaging over 9,500 houses and 81 public facilities, including hospitals and schools.
Power supply was disrupted in 162 municipalities, while communications were affected in 22 municipalities. Agricultural losses exceeded 10 million pesos (about 169,448 U.S. dollars).
Kalmaegi was the 20th typhoon to slam the Philippine archipelago this year.
