Deadly Typhoon Kalmaegi Tears Through Vietnam and the Philippines, Killing Over 190 and Exposing Climate Vulnerability in Southeast Asia

A Week of Chaos Across Southeast Asia

Typhoon Kalmaegi left a trail of destruction across Southeast Asia, killing nearly 200 people, destroying homes, and displacing millions. The storm first tore through the Philippines before hitting Vietnam, flattening towns, uprooting trees, and submerging entire communities.

Kalmaegi made landfall in central Vietnam late Thursday, bringing winds of up to 135 km/h and waves as high as 8 meters. Streets in Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Quang Ngai were filled with debris—fallen branches, mangled roofs, and metal sheets scattered across muddy roads.

More than 8,000 people were evacuated, while 1.6 million households lost electricity. In Quy Nhon, residents spent the morning clearing wreckage and drying soaked belongings under the returning sunlight.

By Friday, the storm had weakened into a tropical depression, moving toward Cambodia and Laos, but torrential rains continued to flood low-lying areas. Some provinces in central Vietnam recorded over 600 millimeters of rainfall, triggering landslides and forcing half a million people to flee, many by boat.

Philippines Mourns Its Dead as Another Storm Approaches

In the Philippines, Kalmaegi unleashed catastrophic flooding earlier in the week, killing 188 people and leaving 135 missing, according to the Office of Civil Defense. Nearly 500,000 residents were evacuated, with 300,000 still sheltering in temporary centers.

In Cebu Province, grief filled makeshift funeral halls. Dozens of white coffins lined the floor of a basketball gym converted into a mass wake. Families placed photos and flowers on the lids of caskets.

Jimmy Abatayo, 53, lost ten family members. “I told them to swim, to be brave, to keep moving," he said through tears. “They did not hear me. I will never see them again."

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national emergency as the nation braced for another approaching typhoon, Fung-wong, expected to make landfall in northern islands within days.

Vietnam’s Struggle to Recover

The Vietnamese government mobilized 268,000 soldiers for rescue operations. Officials confirmed five deaths and several injuries, mainly in Dak Lak and Gia Lai provinces. Roads were blocked by landslides, rivers swelled beyond their banks, and large parts of the country remained without power.

In Binh Dinh Province, factories suffered roof damage, and equipment was destroyed by flooding. Along the coast, villages were left flattened. Three fishermen were reported missing near Ly Son Island before search efforts were suspended due to worsening conditions.

When skies finally cleared, residents emerged to assess the damage. Some climbed onto roofs to replace tiles, others shoveled mud from their homes. The sound of hammers and sweeping brooms replaced the roar of the wind.

“Warmer Oceans Mean Stronger Storms," Scientists Warn

Meteorologists say the power of Typhoon Kalmaegi is a direct reflection of rising ocean temperatures.

“The South China Sea is unusually warm," said Ben Clarke of the Grantham Institute in London. “That warmth fuels storms like Kalmaegi, making them both stronger and wetter."

Gianmarco Mengaldo, from the National University of Singapore, added that even if the number of storms does not rise, their intensity will. “We are seeing fewer moderate storms but more destructive ones," he explained.

The trend has already been visible this year. Typhoons Ragasa, Bualoi, and Matmo struck earlier in the season, leaving more than 85 people dead and causing over $1.36 billion in damage.

Feng Xiangbo from the University of Reading warned that coastal areas are becoming increasingly vulnerable. “The footprint of storm surges is expanding," he said. “Combined with sea level rise, this poses an escalating threat to low-lying regions in Vietnam and the Philippines."

A Region on Edge

Kalmaegi was the 13th typhoon to form in the South China Sea this year and the fourth strongest of the 2025 season. Meteorologist Kristen Corbosiero of the University at Albany noted that there have already been 27 named storms in the Pacific basin this year—well above the average.

For the millions affected, this has been a season of unending recovery. Families are still clearing mud from homes in Vietnam while mourners in the Philippines prepare for more rain.