"We always expect the worst, and what I saw yesterday was the worst," volunteer worker Caloy Ramirez told the AP news agency after the typhoon's advance.
The highest number of deaths was recorded on the island of Cebu, which was hit hardest by the typhoon, which hit the country on Monday and Tuesday.
Kalmaegi is now continuing westward toward Vietnam and increasing in strength over the sea. It is expected to be upgraded to a "violent typhoon" on Thursday, according to the weather service Accuweather.
