At least five people were killed and several others remain missing after Typhoon Kalmaegi struck Vietnam’s central provinces on Friday, bringing fierce winds, torrential rains, and widespread destruction just days after devastating the Philippines.
As floodwaters began to recede, cleanup efforts were underway across Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and nearby provinces. Residents and local authorities cleared debris, repaired damaged homes, and restored power to millions of affected people. State media reported that three people died in Dak Lak and two in Gia Lai, while three others remained missing in Quang Ngai province. Six more were injured, and more than 2,600 houses were damaged or had their roofs blown off, with 52 homes collapsing entirely. Power outages affected over 1.6 million households.
Factories and industrial zones in Binh Dinh province were also hit hard, with equipment and buildings damaged by flooding. In the coastal city of Quy Nhon, residents woke up to find streets filled with uprooted trees, twisted metal roofs, and debris scattered by the storm’s strong winds.
By Friday morning, sunlight returned to parts of Dak Lak, revealing streets covered with branches, mud, and water from overflowing rivers. Families swept mud from their homes, shopkeepers dried damaged goods, and communities worked to rebuild after the storm’s destruction.
Kalmaegi hit Vietnam as the region was still recovering from weeks of heavy flooding caused by record-breaking rainfall. More than 537,000 people were evacuated, many by boat, as authorities warned of rising floodwaters and possible landslides. The storm was expected to bring as much as 24 inches (600 millimeters) of rain before weakening into a tropical storm and moving into Laos and northeast Thailand.
Three fishermen were reported missing near Ly Son Island off Quang Ngai province after their boat was swept away by strong waves. Search operations were later suspended due to worsening weather.
In the Philippines, where Kalmaegi made landfall earlier in the week, officials confirmed at least 188 deaths and 135 people missing. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of national emergency as the country braces for another potentially powerful storm, Typhoon Fung-wong, known locally as Uwan.
The Philippines and Vietnam are among the world’s most storm-prone nations, each experiencing multiple typhoons annually. Scientists warn that climate change is fueling stronger, wetter, and more destructive storms across Southeast Asia.
Global
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