Highlights
- Typhoon Kalmaegi killed at least 114 people in the Philippines before hitting Vietnam on Thursday.
- Over 260,000 soldiers are on standby in Vietnam as winds reach 92 mph, battering the coastline.
- Six airports in Vietnam closed, hundreds of flights were cancelled, as the country faces the strongest storm of the year.
- The Philippines’ President declared a state of emergency with 127 people still missing.
- The storm dumped a month’s worth of rain on Cebu Island in 24 hours and wiped out entire neighbourhoods.
Philippines Declares Emergency After Deadly Storm
Breaking News: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a state of emergency on Thursday after the Philippines’ typhoon Kalmaegi killed at least 114 people and left nearly 130 missing. Most victims drowned in flash floods that swept through central regions. The deadliest destruction happened in Cebu province, where entire communities were wiped out. The state of emergency allows the government to release disaster funds more quickly and prevents people from collecting food or charging unfair prices. Almost 2 million people felt the impact of the typhoon, and over 560,000 villagers had to leave their homes. About 450,000 of them ended up in emergency shelters set up by authorities.
The tropical storm dumped a whole month’s rain on the island of Cebu within 24 hours. This sent massive walls of water and mud rushing down mountains into towns and cities. People trapped on their roofs begged for rescue as flood waters kept rising around them. At least 71 people died in the province of Cebu alone, and 65 others are missing. Another 62 people disappeared in the neighbouring Negros Occidental province.
Storm Slams Into Vietnam With Full Force
Typhoon Kalmaegi made its landfall in Vietnam on Thursday at 7:29 PM local time, packing winds up to 92 miles per hour. More than 260,000 soldiers were deployed with over 6,700 vehicles and equipment, including six aircraft, ready for rescue work. Six airports across Vietnam had to close their doors, and hundreds of flights were cancelled. Already, the country has battled record rains and floods for the past week before this typhoon’s arrival. Now, Vietnam faces one of Asia’s strongest storms this year.
Typhoon Mirinae struck central Vietnam’s provinces of Dak Lak and Gia Lai, generating waves as high as 26 feet in the South China Sea. Some 30 minutes into the landfall, hundreds of residents in two areas of Dak Lak province called for help. Many reported their houses had collapsed or were flooded while strong winds and heavy rain continued to pound the area.
Survivors Begin to Pick Up Pieces
In the Philippines, residents began the heartbreaking work of cleaning thick mud and looking through wreckage for anything usable. The storm destroyed homes in poorer areas, the worst because building materials weren’t strong enough to withstand such powerful winds and floods.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held an emergency meeting to direct officials to reach isolated areas. “We must ensure people have food, drinking water, and essential supplies,” he said firmly. “No one should be left hungry or cold.” The Vietnamese weather bureau warned that hundreds of locations in seven cities and provinces will face flooding and landslides. Seaside communities expect to get hit especially hard, with sea levels rising as high as 20 feet in some provinces. This could capsize boats and destroy fishing farms that many families depend on for income.
FAQs
Q: How many people died from Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines?
A: At least 114 people were killed, mostly from drowning in flash floods. Another 127 people are still missing, with many in hard-hit Cebu province.
Q: How much destruction did this typhoon cause in Vietnam?
A: The storm tore roofs off houses, smashed hotel windows, snapped trees and created waves as high as 26 feet. Six airports closed, and hundreds of flights were cancelled.
Q: Why was Cebu province hit so hard?
A: Typhoons dumped a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours; years of mining work blocked rivers, causing severe overflow, and flood control projects were poorly built.
Q: What is a state of emergency, and why is it declared?
A: A state of emergency allows the government to release disaster funds much quicker and can also prevent hoarding of food or price gouging. It was declared because of mass casualties and major property damage.
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