TYPHOON KALMAEGI SLAMS VIETNAM AFTER KILLING 140 IN THE PHILIPPINES
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Agency Report
Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall late Thursday in Vietnam’s central region, compounding devastation in areas already battered by weeks of flooding and record rainfall. Thousands have been evacuated from the storm’s path as authorities brace for what has been described as one of the world’s deadliest cyclones in 2025.
The typhoon tore through the Philippines earlier in the week, killing at least 140 people and leaving 127 missing after catastrophic flooding submerged communities across Cebu and Negros Islands.
According to Vietnam’s environment ministry, Kalmaegi hit with sustained winds of 149 kilometres per hour (92 mph) and even stronger gusts.
“The wind is so strong, nothing can resist,” said Vu Van Hao, a resident of Gia Lai province, as he surveyed shattered windows in a local hotel.
Provincial authorities reported that over 7,000 residents* had been evacuated ahead of landfall, with officials warning of widespread destruction. “This is a huge typhoon with terrible devastating capacity,” said Pham Anh Tuan, a top Gia Lai official.
In Quy Nhon Nam, officials went door-to-door urging residents to flee, while dozens of elderly people and children took shelter in schools. “I don’t want to risk my life,” said Tran Thi Nghia, 56, who left her one-storey home after being urged by authorities to relocate.
Vietnam, one of the world’s most typhoon-prone nations, typically experiences around 10 major storms annually, but Kalmaegi marks the 13th in 2025. Scientists link the growing intensity of such storms to human-driven climate change.
In the Philippines, Kalmaegi left widespread devastation cars and shipping containers were swept away, homes were flattened, and half a million people were displaced. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared astate of national calamity to release emergency funds and control the prices of essential goods.
Ahead of the storm’s arrival, vietnamese President To Lam cut short a Communist Party meeting so officials could return to their home provinces. Schools in Gia Lai and Quang Ngai provinces closed, while five airports were shut down and flights rerouted.
Historic cities such as H and Hoi An both UNESCO World Heritage sites have also been inundated by record rainfall. Some areas recorded up to 1.7 metres of rain in 24 hours, flooding tens of thousands of homes.
Vietnam’s national statistics office reports that natural disasters have already killed or left 279 people missing in 2025, causing over $2 billion in damage With 3,200 kilometres of coastline and 2,300 rivers, experts warn the country remains highly vulnerable to future flooding and storm surges.
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