Typhoon Kalmaegi left a horrifying trail of destruction across the Philippines and Vietnam, taking lives and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Coastal towns were torn apart, villages flooded, and power lines brought down as the storm carved its way through both South Asian countries.
In Vietnam, Kalmaegi ranked among the strongest typhoons on record, with winds reaching 149 km/h and relentless rain battering already flood-hit regions.
Earlier in the week, the storm
slammed into the Philippines, killing nearly 200 people, most in Cebu province, and leaving over 135 missing and 96 injured, according to local officials. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr even declared a
state of emergency as rescue teams raced to reach stranded survivors.
According to CNN, Kalmaegi is expected to weaken as it moves inland toward Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, though forecasters warn that strong winds and flash floods remain a serious threat.
Here’s a look at the devastation left in its wake.
Vietnam
After leaving a trail of destruction in the Philippines, Typhoon Kalmaegi entered Vietnam.
The country’s national weather agency has warned of severe flooding and landslides across seven provinces, as three-metre-high waves battered coastal cities like Danang and fierce winds uprooted trees in Dak Lak, which lies about 350 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City.
This is in Quy Nhon, Gia Lai province, hours before Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in Vietnam today 👀💨
📹 Tien Loi pic.twitter.com/ONggF4ZTUh
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) November 6, 2025
Vietnam’s military has mobilised over 260,000 soldiers and personnel, backed by more than 6,700 vehicles and six aircraft, to prepare for rescue and relief missions.
Airports, schools, and expressways were shut down under large-scale safety measures, while over 500,000 people were evacuated, many by boat, according to AP.
The storm made landfall at 19:29 local time (12:29 GMT) on Thursday, and within hours, residents of Dak Lak province were pleading for help. Many reported their homes destroyed or submerged as relentless rain and gusts of up to 149 km/h tore through the region, BBC reported.
The powerful Typhoon Kalmaegi makes landfall in Quy Nhơn, Vietnam 🇻🇳 pic.twitter.com/46dbWeJFIu
— Disaster News (@Top_Disaster) November 6, 2025
Vietnam News said at least one person was killed when a house collapsed in central Vietnam, while six others remain missing after being swept out to sea near Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai province.
The storm also caused damage to Vietnam’s farmers, as these regions are popular for their coffee and are among its top exports. The aviation and tourism sectors are expected to take a major hit, with eight airports, including Da Nang International Airport, among the worst affected.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired an emergency meeting to coordinate the response, urging authorities to act swiftly.
“We must reach isolated areas and ensure people have food, drinking water, and essential supplies,” he said. “No one should be left hungry or cold.”
Philippines
In the Philippines, flash floods caused the worst devastation, claiming most lives through drowning. Cebu province, in the country’s central tourist region, took the hardest hit as floodwaters swept through towns, destroying homes, vehicles, and entire stretches of infrastructure.
❗️❗️ HORRIFIC flooding across Cebu, Philippines after Typhoon Kalmaegi (TinoPH).
Homes gone. Streets underwater. Families displaced.
This. Is. Not. Normal.
Warmer oceans = stronger storms
Climate change = worse floodingWhat we’re seeing in Cebu is part of a growing global… pic.twitter.com/9fAM2daPBV
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) November 4, 2025
In Liloan, near Cebu City, cars were found piled atop one another, AFP reported. The city recorded 18.3 cm of rainfall in just 24 hours, far above the monthly average.
The tragedy struck while Cebu was still reeling from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit on September 30, killing 79 people and displacing thousands.
Stunned survivors watched from higher ground as buses and shipping containers were tossed around by the raging floodwaters. Residents have now begun the backbreaking task of clearing thick mud and salvaging whatever remains of their homes, BBC said.
On Thursday morning, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a state of emergency, citing mass casualties, severe property damage, and the disruption of livelihoods in the affected regions.
Both Vietnam and the Philippines are among the world’s most
typhoon-prone nations, lying along the Pacific typhoon belt, and regularly suffer immense losses during peak storm seasons. Kalmaegi marks the 13th typhoon to form in the South China Sea this year.
With input from agencies
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