Typhoon Kalmaegi Devastates Philippines and Vietnam, Kills 190+

A powerful tropical storm, Typhoon Kalmaegi, has unleashed widespread devastation across the Philippines and Vietnam, claiming more than 190 lives and leaving dozens missing as it continues its westward march toward Cambodia and Laos. The deadly typhoon has battered communities with ferocious winds, torrential rainfall, and catastrophic flooding, making it one of the most destructive storms to hit the region this year.

In the Philippines, at least 188 people have been confirmed dead and 135 remain missing after flash floods and landslides buried homes and villages under mud and debris. Torrents of water rushed through residential areas, destroying entire neighborhoods and sweeping away vehicles, buses, and shipping containers. The hardest-hit regions include central areas such as Cebu and Talisay City, where survivors have described scenes of total ruin.

Residents who managed to flee to higher ground watched in horror as floodwaters carried away houses and possessions. In Talisay City, one survivor, Mely Saberon, stood before the wreckage of her home, saying, “We don’t have any home anymore. We weren’t able to save anything. We’ve faced many typhoons before, but this one was different.”

The Philippine government has declared a state of calamity nationwide, deploying rescue teams and emergency supplies to the worst-affected areas. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced a state of emergency as authorities brace for another developing typhoon forming in the Pacific Ocean.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the storm made landfall late Thursday with wind speeds reaching 149 km/h (92 mph). The country has reported five deaths so far, with hundreds injured and thousands displaced. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh led an online meeting to direct emergency response efforts, urging rescue teams to reach isolated areas. “We must ensure people have food, drinking water, and essential supplies. No one should be left hungry or cold,” he stated.

The storm’s impact was particularly severe along Vietnam’s central coast, where trees were uprooted, roofs torn apart, and windows shattered by the relentless winds. In Dak Lak province, residents called for help as their homes collapsed under the pressure of heavy rain and flooding. Thousands of people sought refuge in schools and public buildings, while the military deployed over 260,000 personnel with vehicles and aircraft to aid relief operations.

Authorities have warned of further flooding in low-lying areas, as central Vietnam has already experienced record rainfall over the past week, which had killed 50 people even before Kalmaegi’s arrival. Airports and expressways were shut down, and hundreds of thousands were evacuated as a precaution.

The typhoon, known locally in Vietnam as Tino, dumped the equivalent of a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours, intensifying the crisis. In towns like Quy Nhon and Gia Lai, fallen trees and debris blocked roads, while power outages left communities in darkness.

As Typhoon Kalmaegi moves westward toward Cambodia and Laos, regional authorities are on high alert, preparing for potential flooding and landslides. Rescue and cleanup operations are ongoing, but with communications down in several regions, the full scale of the disaster is yet to be determined.

With homes destroyed, infrastructure crippled, and families displaced, Southeast Asia now faces the massive challenge of rebuilding lives and restoring normalcy after one of the deadliest storms in recent memory.