Typhoon Kalmaegi Kills 5 in Vietnam After Battering Philippines

Typhoon Kalmaegi has claimed the lives of at least five people after striking Vietnam's coastal regions with destructive winds and torrential rains. This was reported by local official sources on November 7. The devastating storm reached Vietnam after leaving a deadly trail in the Philippines, where the death toll has reached at least 188.

The storm hit the central part of Vietnam late on Thursday, uprooting trees, damaging homes, and causing massive power outages before weakening as it moved inland. According to the country's disaster management agency, seven people were injured, about 2,800 homes were damaged, and approximately 1.3 million people were left without electricity. Photos and videos circulating on social media show torn-off roofs, flooded houses, and streets filled with trees and debris.

Authorities have warned that torrential rains will continue in the central provinces, from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri, with rainfall possibly reaching up to 200 millimeters. Rising river levels in the section from Hue to Dak Lak could cause new floods and landslides. The government has reported that it has mobilized more than 268,000 soldiers for search and rescue operations. Warnings have also been issued about potential damage to agriculture in the Central Highlands, which is Vietnam's main coffee-growing region.

Meanwhile, the situation in the Philippines remains extremely dire. According to official data, the death toll has reached 188, 135 people are considered missing, and another 96 have received injuries of varying degrees. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to visit the affected areas on Friday to assess the damage and oversee recovery efforts.

Kalmaegi is the 13th typhoon to form in the South China Sea this year. Vietnam and the Philippines are highly vulnerable to tropical storms as they are located in the Pacific typhoon belt. At the same time, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has declared a high alert in connection with the approach of another typhoon, "Fung-wong." It is forecast to strengthen into a super typhoon before reaching the northern part of the country on Sunday evening or early Monday morning.