Typhoon Tino Death Toll Rises To 114 Amid Flood Infrastructure Probe

MANILA—The Philippines is grappling with widespread devastation after Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) exited the country early Thursday morning, leaving behind a mounting death toll and unprecedented flooding that has triggered a national inquiry into flood control infrastructure.

Initial consolidated reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and local government units indicate that the reported death toll has climbed to at least 114 people, with numbers still being validated and at least 26 people reported missing. Over 700,000 individuals have been affected across the Visayas, Mimaropa, and Caraga regions, with hundreds of thousands displaced.

Parts of Capiz province in Western Visayas are flooded in the aftermath of Typhoon Tino./Office Of Civil Defense (OCD) Western Visayas

Cebu Hardest Hit by 'Worst Flooding in Recent Memory'

Cebu province bore the brunt of the storm's fury, accounting for the majority of fatalities. The provincial government has declared the entire area under a State of Calamity after torrential rainfall—equivalent to more than a month’s worth in 24 hours in some areas—caused massive flash flooding. Reports from towns like Liloan detail cars, trucks, and even massive shipping containers being swept away by raging floodwaters.

On neighboring Negros Island, the storm’s heavy rains triggered deadly volcanic mudflows near Kanlaon Volcano, which buried homes and contributed to the rising casualty count in Negros Oriental.

Relief operations in Cebu province./Cebu Province official Facebook page

Government Response and Investigation

The widespread destruction, particularly the systemic failure of defenses in Cebu, has prompted swift government action. President Marcos is scheduled to visit the affected areas and has called for an immediate investigation into the effectiveness of billions of pesos worth of flood control projects in Cebu that seemingly failed to mitigate the disaster.

In addition to the immediate human toll, the typhoon also resulted in the tragic crash of a Philippine Air Force Super Huey helicopter deployed for relief operations in Agusan del Sur, resulting in the recovery of the remains of six crew members.

The six airmen who died in the helicopter crash./Philippine Air Force

As power and communication lines remain partially down across several provinces, recovery and clearing operations are underway.

As typhoon Tino exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), another weather disturbance is expected to affect the country at the weekend and has the potential of being another Super Typhoon./PAGASA

However, these efforts are taking place under the shadow of a new threat: the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is monitoring a new tropical depression that is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility by the weekend and could potentially intensify into a Super Typhoon named ‘Uwan’.

Cover image: The aftermath of Typhoon Tino in a community along Mananga River in Talisay, Cebu./Cebu Province official Facebook