The province of Cebu was plunged into a state of calamity after typhoon Tino unleashed its fury on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, leaving behind a landscape of devastation and a rising death toll. The powerful storm triggered massive flooding and landslides, submerging entire communities, destroying critical infrastructure, and claiming dozens of lives across multiple cities and municipalities.
A Trail of Destruction Across Cebu
The impact of the typhoon was widespread and severe. In Liloan, floodwaters consumed neighborhoods, resulting in dozens of casualties. The town of Compostela faced heavy losses as rivers burst their banks and landslides buried mountain villages. Danao City also reported several residents perishing when a sudden flash flood hit residential areas.
Mandaue City experienced sudden flash floods that displaced thousands of families and left many in mourning. Similarly, Talisay City recorded deaths as its swollen rivers overflowed into homes. The capital, Cebu City, saw floodwaters rise to rooftop levels in Sitio Lower Common, Barangay Bacayan, leading to hundreds of residents being reported dead or missing and causing damage to thousands of homes.
On the western side of the province, Balamban and Asturias were not spared. Severe flooding isolated barangays, destroyed bridges, and left families stranded for days without access to food or electricity, as seen in the mud-filled San Isidro Labrador Chapel in Barangay Nangka, Balamban.
Communities Struggle in the Aftermath
In the days following the storm, the scale of the disaster became increasingly clear. By Thursday, November 6, streets in Barangay Cotcot, Liloan, remained covered in mud, with destroyed houses still without power. Residents, like one in Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City, were left to sort through their mud-caked belongings, salvaging what they could.
The damage extended to essential services. At Owak Elementary School in Asturias, a teacher was pictured on Friday, November 7, desperately retrieving student records and important documents from a classroom filled with mud after a flash flood ravaged the campus.
The provincial government's declaration of a state of calamity was a critical step, enabling the release of emergency funds and speeding up the distribution of relief assistance to the devastated communities. Thousands of displaced individuals sought refuge in evacuation centers, where pleas for clean water, food, and rebuilding materials echoed.
Resilience Shines Through the Grief
Amid the overwhelming loss and destruction, the spirit of the Cebuanos remained unbroken. Stories of remarkable resilience emerged as neighbors helped one another clear debris, shared whatever food they had, and began the arduous task of rebuilding homes. This collective determination to rise again showcased the community's strength in the face of Typhoon Tino's wrath.
