At least five individuals lost their lives in Vietnam following the onslaught of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which brought destructive winds and heavy rainfall to coastal areas, as per officials on Friday. The storm struck central Vietnam late Thursday, causing damage to homes, uprooting trees, and causing power outages before weakening as it progressed inland.
Authorities have issued warnings about ongoing heavy rainfall of up to 200 millimetres in central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri. They also cautioned about rising river levels from Hue to Dak Lak that could lead to flooding and landslides. In Gia Lai province, where the typhoon hit the hardest, shrimp farm owner Nguyen Dinh Sa reported significant losses, with around six metric tons of shrimp destroyed.
The typhoon’s impact along the coast was evident, with trees uprooted, glass and roofing sheets scattered, and residents relying on generators to charge their phones. Vietnam’s disaster management agency reported seven injuries and approximately 2,800 homes damaged, leaving around 1.3 million people without electricity.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines visited evacuation centers in Cebu to distribute relief aid and reassure victims of continued government support after Typhoon Kalmaegi left 135 individuals missing and injured 96 others. Vietnam and the Philippines are prone to tropical storms and typhoons due to their locations along the Pacific typhoon belt, resulting in damage and casualties during peak storm seasons.
As the 13th typhoon to form in the South China Sea this year, Kalmaegi has highlighted the vulnerability of both countries. The Philippines is preparing for another typhoon, Fung-wong, expected to intensify into a super typhoon before hitting northern Philippines, potentially affecting the densely populated capital region of Manila.