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 further inland.
Authorities have issued warnings of ongoing heavy rainfall reaching up to 200 millimeters in central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri. They also highlighted the potential for flooding and landslides due to rising river levels from Hue to Dak Lak.
In Gia Lai province, where the typhoon hit the hardest, shrimp farmer Nguyen Dinh Sa reported significant losses, with around six metric tons of shrimp destroyed. Sa expressed despair over the destruction of his investments, as his warehouse, used for storing shrimp feed, was briefly submerged under seven-meter-high waves and strong winds.
The coastal regions bore the brunt of the typhoon’s impact, resulting in the uprooting of trees, scattered glass and roofing sheets, and residents relying on generators to recharge their phones. Vietnam’s disaster management agency reported seven injuries, around 2,800 damaged homes, and 1.3 million people without electricity.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines visited evacuation centers in Cebu to distribute relief aid and assure victims of ongoing government support after Typhoon Kalmaegi left 135 individuals missing and 96 injured. This typhoon is the 13th to form in the South China Sea this year, with both Vietnam and the Philippines being highly susceptible to tropical storms and typhoons due to their locations along the Pacific typhoon belt.
Preparations are underway for Typhoon Fung-wong, set to intensify into a super typhoon before hitting the northern Philippines. The forecast indicates landfall in northern Aurora province, with potential effects on the densely populated capital region of Manila.