At least 188 people have died in the Philippines and another five in Vietnam following the impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi, based on the most recent official updates from both nations.
The massive storm is now advancing westward toward Cambodia and Laos after sweeping across central Vietnam on Thursday, bringing winds that reached speeds of up to 149 km/h (92 mph).
By Friday morning, towns along Vietnam’s central coastline were strewn with wreckage after enduring the storm’s full force through the night.
Powerful gusts ripped trees from their roots, stripped roofs off houses, and shattered large glass panes. Thousands took refuge in schools and community shelters as soldiers were dispatched to manage the aftermath.
Authorities in Vietnam have cautioned residents about potential flooding in low-lying regions. The central part of the country has already suffered from record-breaking rainfall over the past week, which has taken 50 lives.
Earlier in the week, the same system ravaged several regions in the Philippines, where intense downpours triggered deadly mudslides that crashed through communities. Floodwaters swept through some underdeveloped areas, leaving them completely destroyed.
The confirmed fatalities rose sharply to 188 from 114 reported a day earlier, with another 135 individuals still missing.
The government in the Philippines has declared a nationwide state of calamity as another storm begins to strengthen over the Pacific Ocean.
In preparation for Typhoon Kalmaegi’s arrival, Vietnam’s military mobilized more than 260,000 personnel on Thursday, along with over 6,700 vehicles and six aircraft, to support emergency operations.
Several airports and major highways were closed, while hundreds of thousands of residents were relocated to safer zones.
Once the typhoon hit land at 19:29 local time (12:29 GMT), emergency calls flooded in from Dak Lak province, according to local reports.
Dak Lak, located roughly 350 km (215 miles) northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, was among the hardest hit.
Residents reported that their homes had been washed away or destroyed as unrelenting winds and rain continued to batter the province.
Local reports also indicated that the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, conducted a virtual meeting to oversee rescue and relief coordination.
“We must reach isolated areas and ensure people have food, drinking water, and essential supplies,” he was quoted as saying.
“No one should be left hungry or cold.”
Before reaching Vietnam, the typhoon—referred to locally as Tino—had already caused catastrophic damage in the Philippines.
At least 188 lives were lost and tens of thousands of people were forced to flee, particularly from central regions such as the heavily populated island of Cebu, where floodwaters carried away vehicles.
Kalmaegi unleashed rainfall equivalent to a full month’s worth in a single day on the island, sending torrents of mud and debris cascading down hillsides and through city streets.
Those who managed to escape to higher elevations watched in horror as buses and shipping containers were swept away by the violent waters.
The storm obliterated entire neighborhoods in poorer areas, where structures were fragile and easily destroyed.
In Talisay City, one of the worst-hit communities, Mely Saberon stood heartbroken before the ruins of her home.
“We don’t have any home anymore,” she said. “We weren’t able to salvage anything from our house.
“We didn’t expect the surge of rain and wind. We’ve experienced many typhoons before, but this one was different.”
Residents have since begun the exhausting process of scraping away thick mud and searching the debris for anything salvageable.
On Thursday morning, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. proclaimed a state of emergency, citing the large-scale loss of life, severe destruction of property, and disruption of daily life and livelihoods across affected regions.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
