Typhoon Kalmaegi hits Vietnam after k!lling 140 in Philippines

Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in Vietnams central region on Thursday, November 6, striking an area already battered by days of heavy flooding and record rainfall.  Authorities evacuated thousands ahead of the storm, which arrived with sustained winds of up to 149 kilometres per hour and even stronger gusts, according to the environment ministry. Residents described violent winds shattering windows and uprooting structures in Gia Lai province. We have never experienced wind this strong, said 48-year-old Vu Van Hao as he surveyed damage at a local hotel. State media reported that more than 7,000 people were moved from high-risk areas, with elderly residents and children seen sheltering in schools while officials went door-to-door urging evacuations. The storm hit as central Vietnam continued to reel from a week of catastrophic flooding that killed at least 47 people and submerged historic UNESCO-listed cities like Hue and Hoi An. Heavy rains in late October broke national records, with up to 1.7 metres of rainfall recorded in 24 hours. Kalmaegi had already carved a deadly path through the Philippines earlier in the week, killing at least 140 people, leaving 127 missing, and displacing more than half a million. Footage from Cebu province showed cars stacked atop one another, roofs torn off, and neighbourhoods buried in mud. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos declared a state of national calamity on Thursday to speed up aid efforts. Vietnamese leader To Lam cut short a Communist Party meeting so officials could return to their provinces ahead of the storm. As Kalmaegi approached, families were seen packing belongings onto motorbikes and fleeing fragile homes. Airports in several provinces were shut, dozens of flights rerouted, and schools closed through Friday. Kalmaegi is the 13th major storm to threaten Vietnam this year a stark reminder of the countrys vulnerability. With more than 3,200 kilometres of coastline and thousands of rivers, Vietnam faces severe flood risks, compounded by increasingly extreme weather linked to climate change. Natural disasters have already killed or left missing 279 people in 2025, causing more than $2 billion in damage, according to national statistics.The post Typhoon Kalmaegi hits Vietnam after k!lling 140 in Philippines appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.