Summary: At least 58 people have been killed and dozens remain missing after Typhoon Kalmaegi tore through the central Philippines, unleashing floods, landslides, and widespread destruction. The storm, locally named Tino, is now moving across the South China Sea and is forecast to make landfall in Vietnam later this week.
Trail of Destruction in the Philippines
The Philippine disaster agency confirmed that Cebu province was the hardest hit, with homes submerged, vehicles overturned, and entire neighborhoods left in ruins. Among the dead were six military personnel whose helicopter crashed in Agusan del Sur during a humanitarian mission. At least 13 people remain missing, while nearly 500,000 residents have been displaced.
Authorities reported that many casualties were caused by falling debris, collapsed structures, and flash floods. Emergency shelters across the Visayas region remain overcrowded, and relief operations are ongoing despite damaged infrastructure.
Storm Conditions
According to the state weather bureau PAGASA, Kalmaegi weakened slightly after landfall but still packed sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph) and gusts of up to 165 km/h (102 mph) as it exited toward the South China Sea. Meteorologists warn that the storm could regain strength over open waters before approaching Vietnam’s central coast.
Vietnam on High Alert
Vietnamese authorities have issued second-highest storm alerts across coastal provinces, including Da Nang, Hue, and Quang Nam, where torrential rains have already caused flooding. The government has ordered the evacuation of thousands of residents from low-lying areas and suspended fishing activities. The country is still reeling from record-breaking rains earlier this week that killed at least 40 people in central regions.
Regional Context
The Philippines is struck by an average of 20 tropical storms annually, and Kalmaegi is among the deadliest in recent years, coming just weeks after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake devastated parts of Cebu. The back-to-back disasters have stretched emergency services and heightened calls for stronger climate resilience measures.
In short: Typhoon Kalmaegi has killed at least 58 people in the Philippines, displaced nearly half a million, and caused severe flooding and destruction. Now moving toward Vietnam, the storm threatens to intensify again, putting already flood-stricken regions on high alert.
Sources: NDTV NDTV Profit; The Straits Times The Straits Times; Interaksyon Interaksyon; Kathmandu Post The Kathmandu Post; News24 News24.
