Coastal regions in Vietnam are assessing widespread damage after Typhoon Kalmaegi brought destructive winds and torrential rain on Friday. At least 5 dead in across after typhoon hit the coastal regions. The following deadly rampage took place after the Philippines, where it claimed at least 188 lives.
The powerful storm made landfall in central Vietnam late Thursday, uprooting trees, damaging homes, and causing large-scale power outages before weakening as it moved inland. Authorities warned of heavy rainfall up to 200 millimetres (8 inches) across central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri, raising concerns over potential flooding and landslides.
According to the Vietnam News Agency, one person was killed in Dak Lak province when a house collapsed. While official casualty figures are still awaited, images on social media showed roofs torn off, flooded homes, and streets covered with fallen trees and debris.
The Vietnamese government has deployed over 268,000 soldiers for search and rescue operations and warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas, particularly in the Central Highlands, the country’s main coffee-producing region.
Typhoon Kalmaegi Hits Philippines
Meanwhile, the Philippines continues to grapple with the aftermath of the same storm, where authorities reported 188 deaths, 135 missing, and 96 injured. The country’s civil aviation regulator has placed all area centers and airports on heightened alert as another typhoon looms over the weekend.
According to Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the worst-hit area was the central province of Cebu, where flash floods and overflowing rivers swept through residential communities after Kalmaegi struck on Tuesday.
The storm exited the Philippines via western Palawan on Wednesday morning and moved toward Vietnam across the South China Sea, forecasters confirmed.
Kalmaegi, the 13th typhoon to form in the South China Sea this year, highlights the growing vulnerability of both Vietnam and the Philippines, which frequently endure severe tropical storms and typhoons during the peak monsoon season.
