Vietnam’s central coast was reeling on Friday from the impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi, which brought powerful winds, torrential rains, and widespread destruction a day after devastating the Philippines, where at least 188 people were killed and more than 130 remain missing.
The typhoon made landfall late Thursday in central Vietnam, tearing through the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, and Quang Tri before weakening into a tropical depression as it moved inland.
State media reported one death in Dak Lak province, where a house collapsed during the storm.
Authorities warned that heavy rainfall of up to 200 millimetres (8 inches) could continue through Friday, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas and agricultural losses in the Central Highlands, Vietnam’s key coffee-producing region.
Kalmaegi’s winds uprooted trees, toppled power lines, and damaged hundreds of homes across coastal districts. Photos and videos posted on social media showed flooded streets, destroyed rooftops, and debris scattered across towns.
State television said electricity had been cut in several provinces as a precaution.
Vietnam’s government mobilized more than 268,000 soldiers and emergency workers to assist in search-and-rescue efforts and restore essential services.
“Our priority is to ensure the safety of residents and support affected communities as quickly as possible,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
In the Philippines, Kalmaegi caused catastrophic damage earlier in the week, killing at least 188 people and injuring 96, according to the national disaster agency.
Another 135 remain unaccounted for. Rescue teams are still recovering bodies from landslides and collapsed buildings in the northern provinces of Cagayan and Isabela, among the hardest-hit areas.
The storm is the 13th typhoon to form in the South China Sea this year, underscoring the growing frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones in the region.
Both Vietnam and the Philippines are among the most storm-prone countries in the world due to their exposure to the Pacific typhoon belt.
Philippine authorities have placed all major airports and air traffic control centers under high alert as another tropical system develops east of the country, potentially threatening coastal areas this weekend.
Kalmaegi’s twin trail of destruction across Southeast Asia has once again highlighted the vulnerability of the region to extreme weather events intensified by climate change, with recovery and rebuilding efforts now underway in both nations.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
