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. The storm hit central Vietnam late on Thursday, causing damage to homes, uprooting trees, and leading to power outages before weakening as it moved inland.
Authorities cautioned about ongoing heavy rainfall of up to 200 millimeters in central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri. They also highlighted the risk of flooding and landslides due to rising river levels from Hue to Dak Lak. In Gia Lai province, shrimp farm owner Nguyen Dinh Sa suffered significant losses, with around six metric tons of shrimp destroyed.
The typhoon’s impact along the coast included fallen trees, shattered glass, and displaced roofing sheets. Residents relied on generators to recharge their phones amidst the destruction. Vietnam’s disaster management agency reported seven injuries and approximately 2,800 damaged homes, leaving 1.3 million people without electricity.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines toured evacuation centers in Cebu, distributing relief aid and offering government support to victims after Typhoon Kalmaegi left 135 individuals missing and caused injuries to 96 others. Kalmaegi marks the 13th typhoon in the South China Sea this year, with both Vietnam and the Philippines being susceptible to tropical storms and typhoons due to their geographic locations along the Pacific typhoon belt.
In preparation for the approaching Typhoon Fung-wong, the Philippines’ civil aviation regulator heightened alert levels at all area centers and airports. Fung-wong is projected to escalate into a super typhoon before reaching northern Aurora province, potentially affecting the densely populated capital region of Manila upon landfall.
