DST News: Typhoon Kalmaegi has claimed at least 188 lives in the Philippines and five more in Vietnam, according to updated figures released by authorities on Friday. The powerful system is now moving westward toward Cambodia and Laos after sweeping across central Vietnam with winds reaching up to 149 km/h (92 mph) on Thursday.
In Vietnam, coastal towns woke up to scenes of devastation, with uprooted trees, shattered windows, and roofs torn away by the storm’s force. Thousands of residents took shelter in public buildings and schools, while military personnel were deployed to assist with search, rescue, and cleanup efforts. Officials have warned that flooding remains a serious risk, particularly in low-lying areas that have already suffered record rainfall over the past week, resulting in around 50 deaths.
The scale of destruction in the Philippines has been severe. Earlier this week, Kalmaegi triggered deadly landslides and flash floods that swept through communities, particularly in poorer areas where homes are less structurally sound. The death toll rose sharply from 114 to 188 within a day, with another 135 people still unaccounted for. Entire neighborhoods were engulfed in torrents of mud and debris after the storm dumped a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours, especially on the island of Cebu.
Survivors described harrowing experiences as vehicles, shipping containers, and even buses were swept away. In Talisay City, one of the hardest-hit areas, resident Mely Saberon was left standing in front of what remained of her home—just rubble.
“We have nothing left,” she said. “We couldn’t save anything. We’ve seen storms before, but nothing like this.”
The Philippine government has declared a nationwide state of calamity as it braces for another approaching weather system forming over the Pacific.
In Vietnam, the government had mobilized more than 260,000 soldiers and emergency personnel before the storm’s arrival, along with thousands of vehicles and several aircraft. Hundreds of thousands were evacuated, while airports and major highways were temporarily closed. After landfall, residents in Dak Lak province—around 350 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City—issued distress calls as homes collapsed or were engulfed by rising water.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh convened an emergency meeting to coordinate response efforts, urging authorities to ensure essential supplies reach affected households.
“We must not let anyone go hungry or without shelter,” he said.
As both nations begin the long process of recovery, communities are clearing debris, sifting through remains of destroyed homes, and facing the emotional and material toll left behind by one of the region’s most destructive storms this season.
Source: BBC
