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 confirmed by officials on Friday. The storm hit central Vietnam late on Thursday, causing uprooted trees, damaged homes, and power outages before weakening as it moved inland.
Authorities issued warnings of ongoing heavy rainfall up to 200 millimeters in central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri. Additionally, they highlighted the risk of flooding and landslides due to rising river levels from Hue to Dak Lak.
In Gia Lai province, where the typhoon had the most significant impact, shrimp farm owner Nguyen Dinh Sa suffered catastrophic losses. Sa expressed his despair over the destruction of approximately six metric tons of shrimp, stating that all his investments were wiped out.
The typhoon’s aftermath included widespread destruction along the coast, with trees uprooted, glass and roofing sheets scattered, and residents relying on generators to recharge their phones. Vietnam’s disaster management agency reported seven injuries and around 2,800 homes damaged, leaving approximately 1.3 million people without electricity.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines visited evacuation centers in Cebu, distributing relief aid and assuring victims of the government’s continued support following Kalmaegi’s devastating impact, which left 135 individuals missing and 96 others injured.
Typhoon Kalmaegi marks the 13th storm to develop in the South China Sea this year, underscoring the vulnerability of Vietnam and the Philippines to tropical storms and typhoons due to their geographic locations along the Pacific typhoon belt. As the region braces for another typhoon, Fung-wong, civil aviation authorities have heightened alert levels at all area centers and airports in anticipation of its intensification into a super typhoon before making landfall in the northern Philippines.
The forecast indicates a potential landfall in northern Aurora province, with implications for the densely populated capital region of Manila as the storm approaches on Sunday evening or early Monday morning.