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8 Dead, Over 450 Injured as 5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Bangladesh

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8 Dead, Over 450 Injured as 5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Bangladesh

Dhaka, Bangladesh — The quake occurred at 10:38 a.m. local time on November 21, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Tremors were felt across Dhaka and several surrounding districts, prompting widespread panic as residents rushed out of homes, offices, and schools.

Videos obtained by NBC News captured the moment the earthquake hit, showing people fleeing into the streets as buildings swayed violently.
“We have never experienced an earthquake this powerful in the last five years,” environmental adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan told the BBC.

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According to the BBC, over 450 people were injured, including 10 students hurt during a stampede at Dhaka University. Prothom Alo reported that four additional students suffered injuries after jumping from a residential hall on campus in a desperate attempt to escape.

Hospitals across the region are treating the wounded. Officials said 10 people were injured at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while another 10 were treated at Tajuddin Medical College Hospital in Gazipur. In the same district, more than 150 workers were injured at the Denimach Limited garment factory when the quake triggered chaos inside the building.

Health adviser Nurjahan Begum told reporters that several of those hospitalized are in critical condition, according to Reuters.

“Our main task at the moment is to assess casualties and damage,” said Nitai Chandra De Sarkar, director of the Department of Disaster Management, as reported by the BBC. “We are not yet seeing the challenge of rescue from the rubble or debris management at that level.”

Authorities warn that casualty figures may rise as assessments continue.

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Dubai air show tragedy, Indian Tejas fighter jet crashes, pilot killed

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Dubai air show tragedy, Indian Tejas fighter jet crashes, pilot killed

Dubai, United Arab Emirates — A fatal accident shocked spectators at the Dubai Air Show on Friday when an Indian HAL Tejas fighter jet crashed moments after beginning a demonstration flight, killing its sole pilot.

The aircraft went down at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai World Central, erupting into a massive fireball and sending thick black smoke into the sky. Emergency crews — including police, ambulances, and a helicopter — rushed to the scene and used firefighting foam to extinguish the flames.

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Families and aviation enthusiasts watching from the grandstand gasped in horror as the jet appeared to lose control and plunge directly into the ground.

The Indian Air Force confirmed the tragedy, stating that the pilot “sustained fatal injuries in the accident.” In a statement, it added: “IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.” A court of inquiry will be launched to determine the cause of the crash.

Emirati authorities will also conduct a separate investigation. The Dubai Media Office said firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly and continue to manage the scene.

The Indian HAL Tejas during a demonstration moments before crashing at the Dubai Air Show, at Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday Nov. 21, 2025. Photo: AP/Jon Gambrell

A diplomatic vehicle bearing the Indian flag was seen at the crash site as officials assessed the damage.

Despite the tragedy, the air show resumed about 90 minutes later, with the Russian Knights aerobatic team performing overhead even as emergency crews continued their work nearby.

The HAL Tejas is India’s homegrown, lightweight, single-engine fighter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It has become an increasingly important component of India’s air power strategy as New Delhi seeks to modernize its fleet amid rising security tensions in the region. India recently signed a major contract for 97 additional Tejas jets, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027. A previous order of 83 aircraft, placed in 2021, has faced delays due to shortages of U.S.-supplied engines.

Just a day before the crash, India’s Press Information Bureau had dismissed social media claims of an oil leak involving a Tejas jet at the air show, calling the allegations “false” and “baseless propaganda.” It remains unclear whether the aircraft involved in those reports was the same jet that crashed on Friday.

Footage circulating online appeared to show liquid dripping from the aircraft into bags on the tarmac, but investigators have yet to comment on any potential link.

More details are expected as inquiries progress.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Johannesburg G20 Opens Under Shadow of U.S. Boycott

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Johannesburg G20 Opens Under Shadow of U.S. Boycott

Johannesburg, South Africa — World leaders arrived Friday for a landmark G20 summit — the first ever held on African soil — aimed at pushing the challenges of developing nations to the forefront of global policymaking. But celebrations over the historic moment were dampened by a deepening rift between host nation South Africa and the United States, which is boycotting the event under orders from President Donald Trump.

Delegations from 18 of the world’s largest economies and major developing nations are attending the weekend summit in Johannesburg. The glaring absence of the U.S., a founding G20 member and the world’s biggest economy, follows Washington’s accusations that majority-Black South Africa is persecuting its white Afrikaner minority. The Trump administration has labeled South Africa’s hosting of the summit “a disgrace.”

U.S. Boycott Undercuts Summit Goals

The dispute threatens to overshadow South Africa’s ambitious agenda, which prioritizes the mounting impact of climate change on developing nations, the crushing debt burdens faced by poorer countries, and widening global inequality. These issues were expected to take center stage as African nations increasingly demand a more equal voice in global decision-making.

Diplomatic tensions escalated further this week after South African officials claimed the U.S. was pressuring them not to issue the customary leaders’ declaration at the summit’s close, given America’s absence. The declaration typically outlines areas of broad consensus among G20 members.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pushed back strongly, saying, “We will not be bullied. We will not agree to be bullied.”

G20 Divisions on Display

The G20 — now expanded to include 19 countries plus the European Union and African Union — has long struggled to reconcile competing priorities among nations such as the U.S., China, Russia, India, and European states. Even when declarations are issued, the commitments are not binding, and implementation is often uneven.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, along with leaders from the World Bank and other global institutions, will attend the summit in Johannesburg as observers.

Other Leaders Forge Ahead

Despite the U.S. boycott, other world leaders are seeking to use the summit to strengthen international cooperation, particularly in trade, as countries adapt to shifting economic alignments and U.S. tariff policies.

“The African states are searching for partnerships,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. “I will go to Johannesburg in any case and hold talks there. … I expect that we will return to Germany with good results.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressed the gathering’s significance, noting that the G20 represents around 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and more than half the world’s population.

“The G20 is such an important gathering — it’s the most important gathering for which Australia is a member,” he said, highlighting that a quarter of Australian jobs depend on trade with G20 partners.

A Historic Summit with High Stakes

As the first G20 summit hosted on African soil, the meeting was intended to showcase Africa’s growing economic and diplomatic influence. But the absence of the United States adds uncertainty to whether the bloc can deliver meaningful progress.

Still, with leaders converging on Johannesburg and a shared sense of urgency around global inequality and climate impacts, many hope the summit can produce momentum — even without one of its most powerful members.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Kerala tourist buses stop services to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over rising transport row — details inside

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Kerala tourist buses stop services to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over rising transport row — details inside

Kochi, India – The Luxury Bus Owners Association announced on Sunday that all interstate tourist bus services operating between Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu will be suspended starting Monday at 6 p.m.

In a statement, the association’s Kerala State Committee said the decision comes in response to what it described as “unlawful taxes and harassment” by transport authorities in neighbouring states.

RELATED NEWS : After 800 flight disruptions in Delhi, GPS spoofing raises serious questions about India’s air traffic safety

Association State President A.J. Rijas said that Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have recently started imposing heavy fines, levying arbitrary state-level taxes, and seizing buses operated under valid All India Tourist Permits (AITP) issued by the central government.

General Secretary Maneesh Sasidharan added that Kerala operators with valid AITPs under the Motor Vehicles Act are being detained and fined without justification. “Despite valid central permits, our vehicles are being stopped and penalised as if they are operating illegally,” he said.

The association noted that Tamil Nadu authorities have been collecting taxes from Kerala-registered vehicles for over a year, causing repeated financial losses and inconvenience to both operators and passengers. “Kerala has refrained from retaliatory measures so far, hoping for a cooperative resolution,” the statement said.

Citing growing fears among bus operators over vehicle seizure and financial losses, the association clarified that the suspension of services is not a voluntary protest but a “compelled decision” to ensure the safety of vehicles, drivers, and passengers.

The association has urged the Kerala Transport Minister and the Transport Commissioner to intervene immediately with the governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, as well as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, to ensure uniform implementation of the All India Tourist Permit framework across southern states.

A formal letter has also been sent to Kerala Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar requesting urgent intervention. The association expressed hope that with timely involvement from both state and central authorities, the issue can be resolved amicably and normal interstate tourist operations can resume soon.

SOURCE : PTI |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Ukrainian strikes disrupt power and heating to 2 major cities in Russia

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Ukrainian strikes disrupt power and heating to 2 major cities in Russia

Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukrainian strikes disrupted power and heating to two major Russian cities near the Ukrainian border, local Russian officials reported Sunday.

The report comes as Russia and Ukraine have traded almost daily assaults on each other’s energy infrastructure and U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to stop the nearly four-year war have not advanced.

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Elsewhere, Ukraine’s top diplomat accused Moscow of deliberately endangering nuclear safety, as he said Russia’s mass drone and missile attack on Friday struck substations that power two nuclear power plants.

And in Russia, the Kremlin spokesman said Moscow intended to honor its obligations under a global nuclear test ban, despite a recent order by President Vladimir Putin to study the possibility of resuming atomic tests.

Power knocked out in two Russian cities

A drone strike temporarily caused blackouts and cut heating to parts of Voronezh, regional Gov. Alexander Gusev said. He said several drones were electronically jammed during the night over the city, home to just over 1 million people, sparking a fire at a local utility facility that was quickly extinguished.

Russian and Ukrainian news channels on Telegram claimed the strike targeted a local thermal power plant.

A missile strike late on Saturday also caused “serious damage” to power and heating systems supplying the city of Belgorod, with some 20,000 households affected, local Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported the following morning.

Russia’s defense ministry said Sunday that its forces destroyed or intercepted 44 Ukrainian drones during the night that flew over the Bryansk and Rostov regions in southwestern Russia. The statement made no mention of either the Voronezh or Belgorod provinces, nor did it specify how many drones Ukraine launched.

Local authorities in the Rostov region on Sunday reported on hourslong blackouts in the city of Taganrog, home to some 240,000 people, blaming them on an emergency shutdown of a power line. They did not specify the cause, though local media claimed a nearby transformer substation caught fire.

Months of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries have aimed to deprive Moscow of the oil export revenue it needs to pursue the war. Meanwhile, Kyiv and its western allies say Russia is trying to cripple the Ukrainian power grid and deny civilians access to heat, light and running water for a fourth consecutive winter, in what Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing” the biting cold.

Strikes endanger power supply to nuclear plants

Russia’s mass drone and missile strikes Friday hit power substations that supply two of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

“Russia once again targeted substations that power the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne nuclear power plants,” Sybiha said in a statement on X late Saturday. “These were not accidental but well-planned strikes. Russia is deliberately endangering nuclear safety in Europe.”

Sybiha called for an urgent meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors to respond to the risks posed by the attacks.

Moscow’s massive attacks on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure last winter have heightened scrutiny over the Ukrainian Energy Ministry’s apparent failure to protect the country’s most critical energy facilities near nuclear power sites, according to several current and former officials who spoke to the AP.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Saturday that work has begun on President Vladimir Putin’s order to prepare plans for a possible Russian nuclear test, according to state news agency Tass.

Putin’s order on Wednesday followed statements by Trump, which appeared to suggest that Washington would restart its own atomic tests for the first time in three decades.

Kremlin says Russia will abide by nuclear ban

Russia will abide by its obligations under a global nuclear ban, the Kremlin spokesman said Sunday, following days of uncertainty over remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that appeared to suggest Washington might restart atomic tests after more than three decades.

Trump’s comments came after Russia announced it had tested a new atomic-powered and nuclear-capable underwater drone and a new nuclear-powered cruise missile. But Moscow did not announce any tests of its nuclear weapons, which last occurred in 1990.

“Putin has repeatedly said that Russia is committed to its obligation to end nuclear tests, and that we have no intention” of conducting them, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Earlier this week, Putin ordered officials to study the possibility of resuming nuclear testing, though Russia said it would not do so unless the U.S. did so first.

Russia’s Lavrov says he’s ready to meet Rubio

Elsewhere, Russia’s top diplomat said Sunday that he was ready to meet U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to discuss the war in Ukraine and mending bilateral ties.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio and I understand the need for regular communication,” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russia’s Ria state agency, weeks after efforts to organise a summit between the Russian and U.S. leaders were put on ice.

Lavrov on Sunday repeated that peace can’t be achieved without “taking Russian interests into account,” a phrase Moscow has used to signal it is standing firm in its maximalist demands for Ukraine.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Powerful tornado in Brazil kills 6 people and injures hundreds more

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Powerful tornado in Brazil kills 6 people and injures hundreds more

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil — A powerful tornado in Brazil’s southern state of Parana killed six people and injured hundreds Friday night, state officials said Saturday. Dozens of homes were destroyed.

The tornado, which hit speeds of more than 250 kph (155 mph), prompted the government to declare an emergency in the affected region.

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State officials in a statement said at least one person was missing hours after the tornado touched down. Five of the killed were adults and the sixth was a 14-year-old girl.

The government said that more than 750 people, including children and pregnant women, had received medical attention. Of those, at least 10 underwent surgery and nine remained in serious condition.

The tornado downed trees, overturned vehicles and lifted the roofs of several structures.

Gov. Carlos Massa Ratinho Jr. declared three days of mourning in the state of Parana to honor the dead. Five of the victims were from the municipality of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu and one was from Guarapuava.

On social media, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed solidarity with the victims. Members of his Cabinet announced the dispatching of emergency assistance to the area.

Officials said that food, hygiene products, tarps, mattresses and several other items will be available to victims.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

After 800 flight disruptions in Delhi, GPS spoofing raises serious questions about India’s air traffic safety

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After 800 flight disruptions in Delhi, GPS spoofing raises serious questions about India’s air traffic safety

New Delhi, India — Chaos unfolded at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Friday, 7 November 2025, as a series of GPS spoofing incidents and a technical malfunction in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system disrupted over 800 flights, causing widespread delays across India’s airspace and sparking renewed concerns about aviation cybersecurity.

According to a Times of India report, Delhi’s ATC network was hit by multiple GPS spoofing attacks over the past several days, which manipulated satellite navigation data and fed false location signals to aircraft systems.

What is GPS spoofing?

Cybersecurity firm McAfee defines GPS spoofing as a technique where false GPS signals are transmitted to deceive navigation systems, making them believe they are in a different location. The manipulation can cause severe miscommunication between aircraft and ground systems, potentially endangering flight operations.

“This form of cyberattack undermines the reliability of GPS data, which is critical for navigation, time synchronization, and airspace coordination,” McAfee notes. Experts warn that the growing availability of advanced signal transmitters and spoofing software has made such attacks more frequent and harder to detect.

Delhi’s flight disruption

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the technical glitch was resolved by Friday evening, but clearing the operational backlog is expected to take time. Adverse eastern wind patterns worsened the disruption, forcing aircraft to change runway approaches — landing from the Dwarka side and taking off from Vasant Kunj — creating additional congestion over the national capital.

A senior government official told The Hindu that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is investigating the spoofing incidents and their link to the large-scale system failure. Some flights reportedly received false navigation data and terrain warnings, raising serious questions about the resilience of India’s ATC infrastructure.

A wake-up call for India’s aviation systems

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, in an August 2025 report, had already urged the government to carry out a time-bound modernization of ATC automation systems, warning that outdated technology could expose critical aviation networks to cyber threats.

Aviation analysts say the Delhi incident underscores the urgent need for a cybersecurity overhaul in India’s aviation sector, as GPS-based systems become increasingly central to flight operations.

“This is no longer a technical glitch — it’s a national security concern,” said a senior aviation safety expert. “If spoofing can disrupt flight paths over the country’s busiest airport, the implications for airspace safety are enormous.”

As investigations continue, the DGCA and AAI are reviewing contingency protocols and exploring enhanced anti-spoofing systems to protect India’s aviation network from future cyber interference.

With over 800 flights delayed or diverted, Friday’s disruption has become one of the largest air traffic breakdowns in India’s history — and a stark reminder of how vulnerable modern aviation has become in the digital age.

SOURCE : MINT |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Israel returns bodies of 15 Palestinians after militants return remains of an Israeli hostage

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Israel returns bodies of 15 Palestinians after militants return remains of an Israeli hostage

Khan Younis, Gaza Strip — Israel on Saturday returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, hospital officials in the strip said, a day after militants returned the remains of a hostage to Israel under the terms of the tenuous ceasefire agreement in the two-year war.

The exchange marked another step forward for the tenuous, U.S.-brokered truce. As part of the deal, Israel has returned the remains of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage.

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The Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis said the 15 bodies were brought there.

The return came shortly after Israel confirmed the remains given back Friday night were of an Israeli man who died while fighting Hamas in the militants’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack that started the war. The hostage body was identified as that of Lior Rudaeff, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s office.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Rudaeff was born in Argentina and moved to Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, a farming community in southern Israel, as a child. He volunteered for more than 40 years as an ambulance driver and was a member of the community’s emergency response team.

The forum said he was killed in the Hamas-led attack and that his body was taken to Gaza.

Since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 23 hostages, including Rudaeff’s body, with five still remaining in Gaza.

Including the remains returned on Saturday, Israel has handed over the bodies of 300 Palestinians. Health officials in Gaza have struggled to identify the bodies without access to DNA kits, and have so far identified 89 of the bodies, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Under the terms of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Israel is supposed to allow substantially more aid into Gaza.

However, relief efforts under the pact still fall well short of what is needed in Gaza, according to Farhan Haqq, deputy spokesperson for the United Nations. More than 200,000 metric tons in aid is positioned to move into Gaza, but only 37,000 tons, mostly food, have been admitted, he said.

The 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s sweeping military offensive has killed more than 68,800 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by independent experts.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

Myanmar Junta Demolishes Nearly 150 Buildings in Crackdown on Border Scam Hub, India Begins Repatriating Its Citizens

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Myanmar Junta Demolishes Nearly 150 Buildings in Crackdown on Border Scam Hub, India Begins Repatriating Its Citizens

YANGON / BANGKOK / NEW DELHI — Myanmar’s military government said Sunday it has demolished nearly 150 buildings at a notorious internet scam complex near the Thai border, while India began repatriating hundreds of its nationals who fled the same area after a major raid on the compound last month.

According to the junta’s state-run newspaper, The Global New Light of Myanmar, the demolition drive at the KK Park complex uncovered 148 structures, including dormitories, a four-story hospital, a gym, a spa, and a two-story karaoke lounge. Officials said 101 buildings have already been torn down, and work on the remaining 47 is underway.

The demolition follows a mid-October military raid at KK Park, located near the border town of Myawaddy, one of Southeast Asia’s most infamous cybercrime hubs. The compound housed thousands of workers — many of them trafficked from across Asia — who were forced to operate online scams and illegal gambling networks generating billions of dollars annually.

India began repatriating on Thursday the first batch of hundreds of its nationals who fled to Thailand after escaping from the scam center. An Indian Air Force transport aircraft departed from Thailand carrying about 270 of the 465 Indians scheduled for repatriation, with another flight planned later in the day. The remaining evacuees are expected to return to India next Monday, said Maj. Gen. Maitree Chupreecha, commander of Thailand’s Naresuan Task Force, which oversees the border region.

The center, known as KK Park, was raided by Myanmar’s army in mid-October as part of a coordinated effort to suppress cross-border online scams and illegal gambling. The raid prompted more than 1,500 people — including hundreds of Indian nationals — to flee across the border into Thailand seeking safety.

This marks the second major repatriation effort by India in less than a year. In March 2024, New Delhi brought home 549 citizens caught in similar cybercrime operations along the Myanmar-Thai border following a separate crackdown.

Indian officials have been coordinating closely with Thai authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to facilitate safe passage home for the rescued workers. Most of the returnees were young professionals duped with fake job offers and later forced to participate in fraudulent investment and cryptocurrency schemes.

Residents on both sides of the Myanmar–Thailand border reported hearing intermittent explosions since the military demolition began, though AFP was unable to independently verify the junta’s claims.

Analysts say the junta’s actions appear partly performative, aimed at easing international pressure — particularly from China and ASEAN countries — without fully dismantling the profitable scam industry that funds local militias allied with the regime.

“China is growing increasingly impatient with scam centers targeting Chinese citizens,” one regional analyst said. “But a full crackdown could undercut the militias and warlords the junta relies on for survival.”

In February, pressure from Beijing led to the repatriation of some 7,000 scam workers from northern Myanmar, while Thailand imposed a cross-border internet blockade to choke off illegal operations.

Following an AFP investigation revealing that KK Park continued to expand despite “raids,” using Starlink satellite receivers to bypass Thai internet restrictions, SpaceX confirmed it had cut service to over 2,500 terminals linked to suspected scam operations in Myanmar.

The ongoing demolitions and repatriations mark a rare coordinated effort among Myanmar, Thailand, India, and China to combat a regional cybercrime epidemic that has exploited tens of thousands of workers and defrauded victims worldwide.

As repatriation flights continue, Indian officials say they remain committed to rescuing more citizens trapped in similar scam compounds across Southeast Asia — and to ensuring that no one else falls prey to fake overseas job syndicates again.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Typhoon Kalmaegi Kills 66 in the Philippines, Dozens Missing as Floods Swallow Quake-Hit Province

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Typhoon Kalmaegi Kills 66 in the Philippines, Dozens Missing as Floods Swallow Quake-Hit Province

Manila, Philippines — Typhoon Kalmaegi has left at least 66 people dead and 26 others missing after unleashing torrential rains and deadly floods across the central Philippines, disaster officials said Wednesday. The storm struck hardest in Cebu province, a region still reeling from a powerful earthquake just weeks earlier.

Authorities said most of the fatalities were caused by flash floods and landslides triggered by Kalmaegi’s intense downpour. The typhoon flooded entire communities, forcing residents onto rooftops as raging waters swept away cars and homes.

“We did everything we could, but the flash floods came too fast,” Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro told the Associated Press. “There has to be an investigation of the flood control projects here in Cebu and people should be held accountable.”

The province, home to more than 2.4 million people, has been placed under a state of calamity to speed up emergency funding and relief operations.

The Office of Civil Defense reported that at least 49 people drowned in Cebu alone, while others were killed by landslides and falling debris. Thirteen of the 26 missing persons were also from the province.

In a separate tragedy, six Philippine Air Force personnel died when a Super Huey helicopter crashed in the southern province of Agusan del Sur while en route to deliver humanitarian aid to typhoon-hit areas. All bodies were recovered, though the cause of the crash remains unknown.

Gwendolyn Pang, secretary-general of the Philippine Red Cross, said rescuers received a flood of emergency calls from trapped residents in Cebu but were unable to respond immediately due to the strong currents and floating debris. “We had to wait for the floodwaters to subside before we could reach them,” Pang said.

Governor Baricuatro added that years of illegal quarrying and substandard flood control projects worsened the flooding by clogging rivers with silt. The issue has become part of a nationwide corruption scandal involving incomplete or fake flood-control infrastructure, which has sparked growing public anger.

The devastation came as Cebu was still recovering from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on September 30 that killed 79 people and displaced thousands. Many residents displaced by the quake were moved to sturdier shelters before the typhoon’s arrival — a move that officials say helped prevent even greater loss of life.

Kalmaegi made landfall late Tuesday, tearing through the central Philippines with sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (81 mph) and gusts up to 180 kph (112 mph) before moving out to the South China Sea by Wednesday afternoon.

Elsewhere, an elderly man drowned in Southern Leyte, and other fatalities were reported in neighboring provinces after trees and debris crushed homes. More than 387,000 people were evacuated before the storm, while 3,500 passengers were stranded in ports as ferries and fishing boats were grounded. At least 186 domestic flights were canceled nationwide.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson expressed condolences, saying, “The United States stands ready to assist our friends and partners in the Philippines.”

The Philippines, which endures about 20 typhoons each year, remains one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tropical storms are common.

Meanwhile, central Vietnam was bracing for Kalmaegi’s arrival, with authorities ordering evacuations, recalling fishing boats, and preparing shelters as the storm is expected to make landfall Friday morning, bringing more torrential rains and flash floods to the region.

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