Typhoon Kalmaegi Hits Philippines and Vietnam; Floods Loom in Central Vietnam

Typhoon Kalmaegi battered the Philippines and Vietnam with strong winds and torrential rain, leaving communities to brace for further flooding. In the Philippines, officials said 135 people remained missing and 96 had been injured as rescuers searched for survivors after the storm tore through towns and flooded streets. In Vietnam, the disaster struck the central coast late Thursday, killing at least five people, uprooting trees, damaging homes and causing widespread power outages. Authorities warned rainfall could reach up to 200 millimetres in provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri, while rising river levels from Hue to Dak Lak threatened floods and landslides.

By Friday, about 2,800 homes had been damaged and roughly 1.3 million people were without electricity. Rail links in Quang Ngai were damaged, and Da Nang and other cities faced the risk of severe flooding. Crews mobilized to clear debris and restore services as the government deployed more than 268,000 soldiers to support search-and-rescue operations. The Central Highlands, a key coffee-growing region, faced potential agricultural losses as the rain persisted.

With Kalmaegi moving west toward Cambodia and Laos, authorities warned residents to stay vigilant for floods and landslides and to maintain readiness for relief efforts. In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. planned to visit affected areas to assess damage and oversee recovery; officials cautioned that the worst could still be ahead. As communities brace for more rain, ongoing relief and recovery will hinge on weather conditions and the speed of aid deliveries.

Cover image source: Typhoon Kalmaegi brings rain and destruction to Vietnam as death toll nears 200 in Philippines 🔗

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