At least five individuals lost their lives in Vietnam as Typhoon Kalmaegi wreaked havoc on coastal areas with fierce winds and heavy rainfall, as per officials on Friday. 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 issued warnings of ongoing heavy rainfall up to 200 millimeters in central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri. They also cautioned about rising river levels from Hue to Dak Lak that could result in flooding and landslides. In Gia Lai province, where the typhoon had a significant impact, shrimp farm owner Nguyen Dinh Sa reported substantial losses, with around six metric tons of shrimp destroyed.
The typhoon caused significant destruction along the coast, toppling trees, scattering debris, and leaving residents reliant on generators for charging their electronic devices. Vietnam’s disaster management agency reported seven injuries and around 2,800 damaged homes, with approximately 1.3 million people experiencing power outages.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines visited evacuation centers in Cebu, distributing relief aid and reassuring victims of continued government assistance after Kalmaegi left 135 individuals missing and injured 96 others.
This year marks the formation of the 13th typhoon in the South China Sea, posing a threat to both Vietnam and the Philippines due to their exposure to tropical storms and typhoons along the Pacific typhoon belt. The Philippines is currently on high alert in anticipation of Typhoon Fung-wong, projected to intensify into a super typhoon before hitting the northern Philippines, potentially affecting the densely populated capital region of Manila.