Vietnam’s coastal regions evaluated the impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi on Friday, noting significant wind and rain damage, and a reported death by state media. This comes after the storm’s deadly impact in the Philippines, where it claimed at least 188 lives.
The typhoon hit central Vietnam late Thursday, causing uprooted trees, damaged homes, and power outages, before weakening inland. Authorities have warned of ongoing heavy rainfall, possibly reaching 200 millimeters (8 inches), across central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri.
While Vietnam had not released official casualty counts, the Vietnam News Agency reported one death in Dak Lak province due to a house collapse. Social media images depicted homes with torn-off roofs, flooded areas, and streets covered with fallen trees and debris. Stay informed with the latest updates. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
In the Philippines, as the storm’s death toll rose, officials reported 135 individuals missing and 96 injured.
The Vietnamese government deployed over 268,000 soldiers for rescue missions and warned of potential flooding in low-lying areas, which might impact agriculture in the Central Highlands, a key coffee-producing region.
Kalmaegi is the 13th typhoon to form in the South China Sea this year. Both Vietnam and the Philippines are particularly susceptible to tropical storms and typhoons, frequently facing damage and casualties during peak storm periods.
The Philippines’ civil aviation authority has heightened alerts across all area centers and airports in anticipation of another typhoon expected to affect parts of the country this weekend.
