Massive death toll and widespread devastation
A devastating typhoon has swept through the central Philippines and made landfall in Vietnam, leaving a trail of destruction and loss of life. In the Philippines alone, the death toll has climbed to at least 188, with dozens more missing. In Vietnam, authorities report multiple fatalities and widespread damage, as the storm crosses the country with heavy rain, wind and flooding.
Where and how the destruction hit hardest
In the Philippines:
- The central region, especially the province of Cebu, was among the worst-hit areas. Flooding, landslides and collapsed homes were widespread.
- Over 560,000 people were displaced and hundreds of thousands evacuated ahead of the storm.
- Rivers overflowed rapidly, and homes were inundated with mud, forcing many residents onto rooftops for safety.
In Vietnam:
- The storm hit central provinces with strong winds and torrential rainfall, uprooting trees, damaging homes, flooding streets and cutting power to more than a million households.
- Authorities in Gia Lai and Dak Lak reported structural damage and evacuations ahead of the storm’s full impact.
The storm is weakening — but risks remain
Meteorological agencies now report that the typhoon has weakened as it traverses land and moves inland, but lingering heavy rains still pose grave threats of flooding and landslides in both countries.
In Vietnam, while winds have lessened, rivers remain swollen, and many affected areas still lack power and access for relief efforts.
Underlying factors worsening impact
- Many of the destroyed areas in the Philippines were already vulnerable, having recently been damaged by a major earthquake, which left infrastructure weakened and more susceptible to collapse under flood stress.
- Delayed or inadequate flood-control infrastructure has been criticised. Officials and civil society point to unfinished or substandard defences as a contributor to the death toll.
- Climate change experts say storms like this are becoming wetter and more intense, increasing rainfall totals and the speed of flood onset.
Response efforts and emergency measures
- The Philippine government has declared a state of national calamity, enabling quicker access to funds and resources for affected regions.
- In Vietnam, evacuations were ordered, especially in coastal and low-lying areas; airports and transport were disrupted as preparations stepped up.
- Rescue and relief operations are underway, but access to remote and isolated communities is still severely hampered by debris, floods and power outages.
What to watch in the coming days
- Whether the missing persons count rises as rescuers reach cut-off villages and recovery operations intensify.
- The ability of infrastructure and utilities (electricity, roads, communications) to be restored quickly, enabling relief supply delivery.
- Whether additional storms, as forecast in the region, compound the damage or hamper recovery efforts.
- How government agencies respond to accountability questions—particularly around flood defences and preparedness—and whether reforms will follow.
The takeaway
Typhoon Kalmaegi has emerged as one of the deadliest storms in recent memory for the Philippines, and a severe event for central Vietnam. While the worst of the winds may be passing, the human, economic and infrastructural toll is vast and will take months—if not years—to fully address. The priority now is rescue, relief and restoration. But the storm also highlights urgent needs: stronger infrastructure, better early-warning systems and strengthened resilience in regions increasingly exposed to extreme weather.
