Typhoon “Tino” Devastates Central Philippines; 40 Dead, Air Force Helicopter Crashes in Relief Mission

The number of confirmed deaths has risen to 40, while thousands of residents have evacuated amid the onslaught of Typhoon “Tino” in the Visayas and parts of Northern Mindanao, according to a report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) yesterday.

According to Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Junie Castillo, 22 of the fatalities were from Region 7, two from the Negros Island Region (NIR), and one each from Western Visayas (Region 6) and Eastern Visayas (Region 8).

Based on NDRRMC data, the storm has affected 59,918 individuals, or 17,124 families, across 371 barangays in Regions 6, NIR, 7, 8, and Caraga.

The NDRRMC remains under red alert status, with agencies such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on standby for assistance, search and rescue, and relief operations.

According to OCD Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, personnel, equipment, and supplies have already been prepositioned in the affected regions. He also urged the public to stay alert, follow local government advisories, and refrain from spreading false information.

Among the victims were 12 residents, including two families, who were feared dead after flash floods swept away their homes in Barangay Bacayan, central Cebu City, early yesterday morning.

Mayor Nestor Archival reported that only one father survived the incident. Search and retrieval operations are ongoing along the Bacayan River up to Barangay Talamban, where destroyed houses and debris have been found.

Archival said that nearly half of the Villa del Rio community in Bacayan was engulfed by floodwaters. An estimated 50 to 60 houses were swept away, while 95% of the homes near the creek in the city’s north district were destroyed.

The mayor added that residents had been warned to evacuate before the heavy rains intensified, but many refused to leave, saying they were used to rising waters.

One of the survivors, Don del Rosario, 28, of Cebu City, said he climbed to the second floor of his house to survive.

“The water rose so fast. By around 4 a.m., no one could get out of their homes. I’ve lived here for 28 years, and this is the worst flooding we’ve ever experienced,” he said.

A Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopter conducting relief operations crashed in the town of Loreto, Agusan del Sur, on Tuesday, November 4, while assisting areas affected by Typhoon “Tino.”

According to PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco, the aircraft was one of the few remaining UH-1H Super Huey utility helicopters in service. It was part of a fleet of four helicopters deployed from Davao to Butuan to carry out a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) mission.

Basco said the Air Force lost communication with the Super Huey while it was flying near the headquarters of the 60th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Loreto. Search and rescue operations were immediately launched to locate the aircraft and its crew.

As of now, no official information has been released regarding the number of people on board or possible casualties. Air Force and Army personnel continue to search the area where the aircraft went down.

In a statement, the PAF assured the public that it is doing everything possible to rescue the pilots and crew members, while offering prayers for their safety.

“We are praying for the safety of our comrades,” said Col. Basco.

She added that a thorough investigation will be conducted once the wreckage is found to determine the cause of the crash.

The Super Huey is a modernized version of the UH-1H Huey, which has long served the Air Force in combat, transport, and humanitarian missions, particularly in disaster response operations.