LOC16:48
13:48 GMT
Several vehicles were damaged by severe flooding caused by Typhoon Kalmaighi in a residential complex in Cebu province, Philippines
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (KUNA) -- The Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Thursday declared a nationwide state of emergency after the typhoon Kalmaegi wreaked havoc throughout the country killing 140 people and leaving behind large swaths of land littered with heaps of rubble.
Marcos, speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting, affirmed that the strong storm demolished wide lands particularly in the central region of Cebu, indicating that the decision to declare the emergency was taken considering a forthcoming storm.
Meanwhile, the deputy director of the defense minister's office, Bernardo Rafaelito, said in a statement that the bulk of mortalities were reported in Cebu, adding that freakish weather conditions caused rivers' overflow, adding that six people perished in crash of an army helicopter in the district of Agusan Del Sur, amid the stormy weather conditions.
Meteorologist Benison Estareja said in a statement that the fallen rain soared to five volumes larger than the average, adding that this phenomenon happens once in every 20 years.
For her part, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuator said rivers were blocked, thus aggravating formation of floods.
Cebu has been smarting from a 9.6 degree earthquake that happened on September 30 killing 79 people and rendering thousands others homeless.
These reports were brodcast by the Philippine media outlets, monitored in the Malaysian capital. (end)
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