Powerful Typhoon Kalmaegi has left at least 66 people dead and caused widespread destruction in central Philippines before moving towards the coast of Vietnam.
Another 26 people were still missing on Wednesday following widespread flooding that trapped people on their roofs and swept away scores of cars in the worst-hit Cebu province.
Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, intensified as it blew away from western Palawan province into the South China Sea with sustained winds of up to 140kmph and gusts of up to 187kmph, the weather agency said. It is the 20th storm to hit the Philippines this year.
Before Kalmaegi's landfall, officials said more than 387,000 people had evacuated to safer ground in eastern and central Philippine provinces. Authorities had warned of torrential rains, potentially destructive winds and storm surges of up to 10ft.
Filipino authorities declared a state of calamity in the province of Cebu to allow authorities to disburse emergency funds more rapidly to deal with the latest natural disaster.
The bustling province of more than 2.4 million people in the central Philippines was the worst-hit region, accounting for at least 49 fatalities. The province was still recovering from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on 30 September that left at least 79 people dead and displaced thousands when houses collapsed or were severely damaged.
"It was the major cities that got hit (with floods), highly urbanised areas," said civil defence deputy administrator Rafaelito Alejandro. Local officials said the typhoon set off flash floods in Cebu and caused a river and other waterways to swell.
The resulting flooding engulfed residential communities, forcing startled residents to climb on their roofs, where they desperately pleaded to be rescued as the floodwaters rose, officials said.
Hundreds of northern Cebu residents who were displaced by the earthquake were moved to sturdier evacuation shelters from flimsy tents before the typhoon struck, disaster response officials said.
"We did everything we can for the typhoon but, you know, there are really some unexpected things like flash floods," Cebu governor Pamela Baricuatro told The Associated Press.
Scenes of devastation emerged in Cebu as floodwaters receded on Wednesday, revealing destroyed homes, overturned vehicles, and widespread debris.
Inter-island ferries and fishing boats were prohibited from venturing out to increasingly rough seas, stranding more than 3,500 passengers and cargo truck drivers in nearly 100 seaports, the coast guard said. At least 186 domestic flights were cancelled.
At least six people died when a Philippine air force helicopter crashed in the southern province of Agusan del Sur on Tuesday while en route to help provinces affected by the typhoon. The air force confirmed that the remains of six personnel have been recovered from the site of the crash.
The Super Huey chopper was one of four dispatched to assess the impact of the typhoon as part of a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response mission.
In Talisay city, survivors sifted through the destruction, hoping to salvage what little remained. Among them was Eilene Oken, 38, who walked through what used to be her neighbourhood, only to find her home completely destroyed.
“We worked and saved for this for years, then in an instant, it was all gone," she said, her voice breaking. But Ms Oken said she remains grateful because her family, including her two daughters, were unharmed.
Central Vietnam, still reeling from days of record rain that triggered flash floods and killed at least 40 people, was bracing for more pounding rain as Kalmaegi nears. The typhoon is estimated to reach Vietnam's coast on Friday morning.
Vietnam's weather agency has warned that the typhoon could hit the country's coast with winds of up to 166kmph.
"It's exhausting," said Tran Thi Ky from the city of Hoi An. "We are tired of flooding, but what can we do," the 57-year-old told AFP, after her home was flooded three times in less than 10 days. "We brought all our furniture to high ground but they are all wet anyway."
Thailand's weather agency has issued an advisory for the northern, eastern and central parts of the country, with the typhoon expected to bring "heavy to very heavy rain" towards the end of the week.
Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed all provincial governors and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to closely monitor the typhoon and ordered all local authorities to speed up flood water drainage.
Governors of all 76 provinces have been tasked with ensuring that flood-prone areas, especially in Bangkok, are prepared for heavy rain and the possibility of flooding.
