Bunawan, Philippines: A Philippine Air Force helicopter carrying six personnel on a disaster-relief mission crashed in the southern province of Agusan del Sur on Tuesday, killing everyone on board, as Typhoon Kalmaegi devastated large parts of the country with torrential rains and powerful winds.
The UH-1H Super Huey helicopter lost radio contact shortly after take-off from Davao de Oro province while en route to deliver aid to typhoon-hit areas. Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that search-and-rescue teams located the wreckage in a mountainous forest near Bunawan town, where all six crew members were found dead.
“The aircraft was on a humanitarian mission carrying relief goods for communities isolated by the typhoon,” the Philippine Air Force said in a statement. “Recovery and investigation teams have been dispatched to the site to determine the cause of the crash.”
The crash occurred as Typhoon Kalmaegi locally named Tino lashed the central and southern Philippines, triggering landslides and floods that have killed at least 66 people nationwide, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Cebu province bore the brunt of the storm, with flash floods submerging entire neighborhoods and landslides cutting off key roads. In some low-lying areas, residents were rescued from rooftops after water levels rose overnight.
Kalmaegi made landfall over Samar island late Sunday with sustained winds of 130 km/h and gusts up to 180 km/h, before crossing the Visayas region and moving into the South China Sea on Tuesday. Forecasters warned that the storm could strengthen again as it heads toward central Vietnam.
The Philippines, which lies along the Pacific typhoon belt, experiences around 20 tropical storms each year. Scientists have long warned that warmer ocean temperatures may be intensifying the strength of such weather systems.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an immediate review of disaster-response coordination and aviation safety procedures following the fatal helicopter crash. “Our rescue workers risk their lives to help others. We must ensure their safety while they serve the nation,” he said in a televised briefing.
As emergency teams continue to clear debris and restore access to isolated areas, authorities have urged residents to remain alert for further flooding, with several dams releasing excess water due to heavy rainfall.
Kalmaegi is the deadliest storm to hit the Philippines this year and comes just weeks after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the same region, compounding the humanitarian crisis.
