Typhoon Kalmaegi Batters Vietnam After Deadly Philippines Rampage

Fierce winds and torrential rains lashed central Vietnam on Friday as Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall, weakening to a tropical storm as it continued its destructive path across Southeast Asia. The storm has already claimed at least two lives in Vietnam’s Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces, according to state media reports.

The powerful storm arrives just days after devastating the Philippines, where it left at least 188 people dead and 135 others missing in what officials are calling the country’s deadliest natural disaster this year.

In Vietnam, authorities evacuated more than 537,000 people ahead of the storm, which brought sustained winds of about 183 kph (114 mph) with gusts reaching up to 220 kph (137 mph) as it approached the coast. Many evacuees were transported by boat as floodwaters rose and the threat of landslides increased.

“This is an unusually strong storm for November,” said a local meteorologist. “The central provinces were already struggling with flooding from record-breaking rainfall even before Kalmaegi arrived.”

The storm’s impact was immediately felt across central Vietnam, with reports of damaged buildings, downed electricity poles, and uprooted trees. Waves up to 3 meters (10 feet) high pounded coastal cities like Danang, while many homes in Quy Nhon lost power for hours. In the financial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, officials warned that high tides on the Saigon River combined with up to 100 millimeters (4 inches) of rainfall could inundate low-lying areas.

Three fishermen from Quang Ngai province’s Ly Son island were reported missing on Thursday after their boat was swept away by strong waves. A search operation was launched but later suspended as weather conditions deteriorated, according to Vietnamese state media.

As Kalmaegi moved inland, it weakened to a tropical storm and continued westward through Cambodia. Thailand’s Meteorological Department warned residents in the northeast to prepare for the storm’s arrival Friday afternoon, cautioning about heavy to very heavy rainfall that could trigger flash floods or river overflows.

Philippines Faces Second Typhoon Threat

Meanwhile, the Philippines is bracing for another potentially powerful typhoon even as it mourns the victims of Kalmaegi.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national emergency on Thursday as Typhoon Fung-wong (locally known as Uwan) was projected to make landfall on the country’s western coast by Sunday night or Monday morning. The approaching storm is growing rapidly over the Pacific, with forecasters predicting it could reach a massive diameter of approximately 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) before striking the northern Aurora province and potentially affecting the densely populated area around Manila.

“We suffered many deaths…it was very grave,” Marcos said of Kalmaegi’s devastating impact. “The biggest problem that we’re seeing is, we have to think who and how many of the personnel now handling government relief and support in the central Visayas region can be shifted to prepare for Uwan.”

The “state of national calamity” declaration enables the government to disburse emergency funds more quickly and prevent price gouging and food hoarding as communities struggle to recover.

Devastating Impact in the Philippines

Cebu province was hit hardest by Kalmaegi, with 139 deaths reported and 79 people still missing. Harrowing scenes of rampaging floodwaters submerging or sweeping away scores of vehicles were captured on video by residents stranded on rooftops.

Among the mourners was Krizza Espra, who visited a mortuary on Thursday to see the bodies of her husband and three children, killed when the roof they were sheltering on collapsed. Four other family members—including her mother and aunt—remain missing.

“I hope someone can help speed up the search for their bodies before they decompose,” Espra said. “We hope we can still recognize them.”

The storm displaced more than 560,000 villagers in the Philippines, including nearly 450,000 who were evacuated to emergency shelters. More than 318,000 people remain in these facilities, unable to return to damaged or destroyed homes.

Climate Change Intensifying Regional Storms

Vietnam, which typically experiences about a dozen typhoons and storms annually, has been hit by a relentless series of powerful weather systems this year. Before Kalmaegi, Typhoons Ragasa, Bualoi, and Matmo struck in quick succession, leaving more than 85 people dead or missing in just two weeks and causing an estimated $1.36 billion in damage.

Climate scientists warn that a warming climate is intensifying storms and rainfall patterns across Southeast Asia, making floods increasingly destructive and frequent. Vietnam is particularly vulnerable, with nearly half its population living in high-risk flood zones.

Similarly, the Philippines experiences about 20 typhoons and storms each year, along with earthquakes and volcanic activity, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

As Kalmaegi continues its westward journey and Fung-wong approaches from the east, millions across Southeast Asia remain on alert, with emergency response teams mobilized and communities preparing for further impacts from what has already been a devastating storm season.