This blog post reviews the recent passage of Typhoon Kalmaegi through the Philippines and Vietnam. It summarizes the immediate impacts, human costs, and the growing role of climate change in intensifying tropical cyclones across Southeast Asia.
It also highlights emerging threats from another storm system, Fung‑wong (Uwan). The post outlines practical priorities for response and resilience based on three decades of experience in disaster science and management.
Damage, evacuations and storm behavior
Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in central Vietnam after battering the Philippines earlier in the week. The system brought destructive winds, torrential rain and coastal surges, damaging buildings, toppling trees and cutting power across multiple provinces before weakening into a tropical storm as it moved into Cambodia.
Vietnamese authorities reported intense rainfall—exceeding 24 inches in some provinces—and waves up to three meters. Rising tides and heavy rain elevated flood risk in low-lying urban centers such as Ho Chi Minh City.
More than 537,000 people were evacuated amid fears of floods and landslides. Officials confirmed at least two deaths in Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces.
Human toll and displacement in the Philippines
In the Philippines, where Kalmaegi struck earlier, the losses were far greater. Official tallies list at least 188 dead and another 135 missing, with Cebu province hardest hit—139 confirmed fatalities and 79 missing.
Floodwaters swept away vehicles and homes, displacing more than 560,000 people. Nearly 450,000 were moved into emergency shelters.
The severity prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare a state of national emergency to accelerate relief and recovery operations.
The storm produced maximum winds reported at 183 kph (114 mph) in affected areas. Heavy, concentrated rainfall overwhelmed drainage and river systems.
Rapid-onset flooding, riverine inundation, and landslide risk in upland areas contributed to the catastrophic damage pattern.
Why this sequence of storms matters
Beyond immediate destruction, the Kalmaegi episode underscores a recurring pattern: powerful cyclones striking in rapid succession. Another typhoon, Fung‑wong (Uwan), was forming over the Pacific and expected to threaten the Philippines within days.
This raises concerns about the ability of communities and emergency services to recover between events. There is growing evidence that warming seas and changing atmospheric circulation are modifying cyclone behavior—making some storms more intense and capable of producing heavier rainfall.
Vietnam and the Philippines are among the world’s most disaster-prone nations. This amplifies humanitarian and economic impacts when storms increase in strength or frequency.
Key takeaways for planners and the public
Practical lessons from Kalmaegi are straightforward. Many are long-standing priorities that must be scaled up as risks grow:
Closing thoughts
Typhoon Kalmaegi’s path of destruction in the Philippines and Vietnam is a stark reminder that we must accelerate disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation measures now.
With another typhoon on the horizon, coordination across government, civil society and international partners is essential to protect lives and livelihoods.
Here is the source article for this story: Typhoon Kalmaegi makes landfall in central Vietnam, bringing destructive winds and heavy rains