Typhoon Kalmaegi Slams Vietnam After Leaving 114 Dead in the Philippines
Vietnam Faces Widespread Disruptions
Typhoon Kalmaegi struck Vietnam on Thursday, prompting officials to cancel hundreds of flights and urge residents to stay indoors. The storm arrived just two days after it swept through the Philippines, killing at least 114 people and leaving widespread destruction behind.
According to Vietnam’s national weather agency, Kalmaegi brought winds of up to 149 km/h (93 mph), tearing roofs from houses, uprooting trees, and toppling power poles. Waves as high as 10 meters (30 feet) battered coastal areas in the central region, forcing authorities to close six airports.
Thousands Evacuated and Troops on Alert
More than 260,000 people in Gia Lai province were evacuated to safer areas as the storm intensified. Kalmaegi is the 13th and one of the strongest storms to hit Vietnam this year. The government placed over 268,000 soldiers on standby for search and rescue efforts, warning of potential floods in low-lying regions and severe damage to agriculture, particularly in the Central Highlands—the country’s main coffee-producing area.
Farmers Fear Crop Losses
As the typhoon approached, hotels and homes along Cua Dai beach near the UNESCO-listed town of Hoi An were shuttered. In Hue province, farmers were still recovering from recent floods that killed 47 people earlier this week.
Rice farmer Nguyen Van Rin, 42, expressed deep concern after losing livestock and poultry in previous floods. “Kalmaegi will flood us for the fourth time, and I am afraid it will be quite bad,” he said while navigating his boat through a submerged road.
Destruction in the Philippines
In the Philippines, the full extent of Kalmaegi’s devastation became clearer as floodwaters receded in Cebu, one of the hardest-hit provinces. Entire neighborhoods lay in ruins—homes flattened, vehicles overturned, and streets buried in debris.
Authorities confirmed that 127 people remain missing as of late Thursday. Search and rescue teams faced major challenges due to the widespread destruction. “The challenge now is debris clearing. We must clear these areas quickly to locate the missing and deliver aid,” said Raffy Alejandro, a senior civil defense official.
The disaster hit just weeks after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu, killing dozens and displacing thousands.
Communities Begin Painful Recovery
In Cebu, survivors returned to find their homes destroyed. Many began cleaning mud from what remained of their houses.
“We lost everything. Only the floor is left,” said Liza Becus from Talisay City. “My children have nothing. Their uniforms, bags, and all our belongings are gone.” She collected scrap metal to sell so she could buy rice for her seven children.
Meanwhile, forecasters are monitoring another developing storm east of Mindanao that could strengthen into a typhoon and approach the Philippines early next week.
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