At least five people lost their lives in Vietnam after Typhoon Kalmaegi, Asia’s most powerful tropical storm this year, struck the central coastal regions with strong winds and heavy rain. The typhoon followed its deadly passage through the Philippines, where it claimed the lives of at least 188 people. The storm uprooted trees, damaged homes, caused power outages affecting 1.3 million people, and left seven others injured. Authorities have warned of further heavy rainfall and the potential for flooding in central provinces.

 

 

Vietnam has deployed over 268,000 soldiers for search-and-rescue efforts and issued warnings for the coffee-growing Central Highlands. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, 135 people remain missing and 96 have been injured. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited evacuation centres and distributed aid. The country is now on alert for another typhoon, Fung-wong, which is expected to intensify into a super typhoon. Kalmaegi is the 13th typhoon of the year in the South China Sea, underscoring the increasing intensity of storms due to rising global temperatures.