Typhoon Kalmaegi Rampages Across Vietnam as the Philippines Braces for Another Storm
Typhoon Kalmaegi has struck Vietnam with violent winds and heavy rainfall, leaving at least five people dead and thousands of homes destroyed before weakening into a tropical storm. The country faces severe flooding and damage across multiple provinces.
In the Philippines, the same system earlier caused catastrophic losses, with at least 188 fatalities and many more missing. Scientists continue to warn that rising global temperatures are intensifying tropical cyclones and floods throughout Southeast Asia, resulting in increasingly frequent and destructive storms.
“Vietnam saw widespread flooding and damage, with five people killed, while in the Philippines at least 188 people were killed,” The Associated Press reported.
Kalmaegi made landfall Thursday north of Gia Lai province in central Vietnam, battering the region before moving inland. Reports from Dak Lak show severe destruction, including collapsed buildings, scattered debris, and numerous uprooted trees blocking roads and sidewalks.
“A damaged building blocks a road in Dak Lak, Vietnam, after Typhoon Kalmaegi lashed the region with fierce winds and torrential rains,” said an Associated Press correspondent.
Earlier this year, remnants of another typhoon caused significant devastation in southwest Alaska, with the Yup’ik communities of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok suffering the heaviest losses. Many residents were forced to evacuate and now face long-term uncertainty about rebuilding.
Scientific Concern
Experts emphasize the urgent need for better disaster preparedness as climate shifts amplify rainfall intensity and storm surges across tropical regions. They warn that without coordinated efforts, Southeast Asia may continue to endure record-breaking typhoons in the years ahead.
Author’s Summary
Kalmaegi’s path of destruction through Vietnam and the Philippines underscores how a warming climate is intensifying storms, leaving deep humanitarian and environmental scars across Asia.