Credited from: REUTERS
Typhoon Kalmaegi has claimed at least 193 lives across the Philippines and Vietnam, with the majority of casualties occurring during its passage through the Philippines, where the death toll reached 188. The storm brought extreme weather conditions, characterized by torrential rains and winds reaching up to 149 km/h (92 mph) upon landfall in Vietnam, resulting in significant flooding and destruction across various regions. Following its devastation in the Philippines, which included flooded towns and collapsed buildings, Kalmaegi made landfall in central Vietnam on November 6, causing more chaos as authorities scrambled to respond, according to BBC, LA Times, and Channel News Asia.
In Vietnam, the typhoon has resulted in extensive property damage, with reported fatalities climbing to five as of Friday morning. Central provinces, particularly Gia Lai and Dak Lak, suffered the brunt of the storm's fury, facing collapsed structures, uprooted trees, and disrupted power supply affecting over 1.2 million households. Vietnamese military forces have been mobilized for search-and-rescue missions, emphasizing the urgency to reach isolated communities and provide relief, as highlighted by Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.
Authorities reported that over 537,000 people were evacuated from storm-affected areas in Vietnam as Kalmaegi impacted the region. Threats of severe flooding compounded the effect of already heightened rainfall due to prior storms in the season. Farmers in the central highlands area have also expressed concerns over potential crop loss, as the region is critical for coffee production, according to LA Times and India Times.
As Vietnam assesses the damage, the Philippines continues to face the ramifications of Kalmaegi's earlier assault. The Office of Civil Defense reported that significant relief efforts are underway, with the national government declaring a state of emergency to facilitate rapid disaster response. Meanwhile, concerns loom over a potential second storm, Fung-wong, which is on a collision course with the Philippines, as indicated by reports from Channel News Asia, Le Monde, and BBC.