By Nearly 160,000 individuals affected; widespread power outages and damage reported across provinces
By Julrod Prino
ILOILO CITY, Philippines — November 4, 2025. Typhoon Tino (KALMAEGI) unleashed torrential rains, powerful winds, and storm surges across Western Visayas, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee their homes and seek shelter in evacuation centers. The storm entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on November 2 as a tropical storm and intensified into a typhoon the following day, leaving a trail of devastation across the Visayas, including the islands of Panay and Guimaras.
Thousands Affected Across Five Provinces
According to consolidated reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Panay Center for Disaster Response (PCDR), at least 49,789 families or 158,980 individuals have been affected in 849 barangays across 63 municipalities and cities in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Iloilo City.
At its peak earlier today, a Red Rainfall Advisory and Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 were raised over much of the region, with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warning of possible storm surges exceeding three meters in low-lying coastal areas.
Floods, Evacuations, and Major Disruptions
In Aklan Province, strong winds and continuous rain affected many communities, prompting pre-emptive evacuations in Kalibo, Batan, New Washington, and Tangalan. Power interruptions and port closures disrupted daily life as more than 27,000 individuals sought refuge in evacuation sites.
Antique Province reported heavy rainfall that pushed rivers to near-overflow levels, forcing local disaster officials to implement forced evacuations. Province-wide suspension of work and classes has been in place since November 3. Farmers’ groups also reported significant losses in rice, vegetable, and banana crops.
In Capiz, destructive winds battered Roxas City and nearby towns. Indigenous Tumandok communities relied on locally made makeshift shelters as power and communication lines were cut off. While some families received assistance through the government’s anticipatory action response, many evacuees remain without aid.
News reports confirmed that two individuals were reported dead in the province — one in Pontevedra town, after being struck by a falling tree in Barangay Sublangon, and another in Pilar town, who was electrocuted while installing wire on the roof of their house in Barangay San Ramon.
Meanwhile, Iloilo Province faced severe flooding and widespread power outages. Fourteen major seaports suspended operations, and classes were halted across 41 towns and cities. In Iloilo City, flood-prone barangays were submerged, prompting early evacuations that continue as of this writing.
Local Initiatives and Humanitarian Response
As Typhoon Tino battered the region, community-led initiatives quickly emerged—from clearing operations to the distribution of hot meals inside evacuation centers.
Community-based organizations and disaster councils are at the forefront of local response efforts. The Panay Center for Disaster Response, Inc. (PCDR), a non-government organization, reported that its Disaster Preparedness Committees (DPCs) have been assisting in damage assessments, information drives, and relief distribution in partnership with barangay authorities. Modular emergency tents earlier distributed by PCDR are now being used as temporary shelters in several evacuation centers.
Call for Assistance
Relief agencies and local organizations are calling for immediate support, emphasizing the urgent need for food packs, clean drinking water, sleeping kits, and hygiene supplies. Coordination among local governments, civil society organizations, and humanitarian partners continues to assess the extent of damages as Western Visayas faces widespread devastation in the wake of Typhoon Tino./PT
