Asia-Pacific

Central Philippines Faces Painful Cleanup From Typhoon Kalmaegi

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By Andy Hsueh/John Van Trieste

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The Philippines is facing a painful cleanup period after Typhoon Kalmaegi smashed through the center of the country, killing over 100 people.

Typhoon Kalmaegi Aftermath

 

REPORTER:  

People in the central Philippines are starting the long struggle of cleaning up after Typhoon Kalmaegi tore across the region. Christine Aton enters the makeshift shelter her family has had to call home since Typhoon Kalmaegi ripped across the central Philippines on Tuesday. Over 100 people died in the Philippines. And in her town of Liloan alone, 35 bodies have been found. Among the dead is Christine’s sister Michelle, who was trapped in her bedroom as the floodwaters overtook the family home.

 

Christine Aton:  

My sister who has a mental disability was inside her room. We tried to pry the door, it wouldn’t open. We tried to open it with a kitchen knife, a crowbar, and wood, but it wouldn't budge. I tried punching the door, it still wouldn’t open. We tried until the water got really high, it reached over our heads.

 

REPORTER:  

Survivors are dazed and some, like Chryos Roa and his family, are going hungry.

 

Chryos Roa:  

We've not eaten for two days. My children are in shock, traumatized and unresponsive. The one’s 14 years old, the other is 18. They were traumatized by the floodwaters. It's our first time encountering something like that.

 

REPORTER:  

Filipinos are used to living with typhoons: Kalmaegi is the 20th in a string of powerful and even deadly storms to hit the country this year alone. But a common refrain among survivors this time is surprise at how fast this storm hit and how intense the destruction has been.

 

Survivor:  

The floodwaters quickly rushed in and we were not able to bring anything with us. This was the first time that has happened to us. I've been living here for almost 16 years and it was the first time I've experienced the flooding.

 

REPORTER:  

For many, the storm has swept away a lifetime of hard work overnight—leaving nothing. Liza Becus is among them. She’s busy digging for whatever clothing that survived from the ruins of her house.

 

Liza Becus:  

Everything was destroyed. Only the flooring remained. Everything was washed out. We have no belongings. My children have nothing. Their uniforms, bags, and all of our things are gone. We borrowed money to buy our TV, took us three weeks [to pay back], and washing machine, about a month [to pay back], for my children, but it's now gone.

 

REPORTER:  

The central Philippines is now a battered region. Just a month ago, the north of Cebu island, one of the region’s main landmasses, suffered a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that killed dozens. Now, the island is caked in mud and littered with ruins, leaving people to pick up as best they can and ask what comes next.

 

Andy Hsueh and John Van Trieste for TaiwanPlus.