The death toll in the Philippines from Typhoon Kalmaegi has risen to 114, with another 127 people still missing, according to the national disaster agency. The powerful storm, which caused widespread destruction across the central Philippines, has now regained strength as it moves toward Vietnam.
Authorities in Vietnam’s Gia Lai province have begun large-scale evacuations, with about 350,000 people expected to be moved to safer areas by midday. Officials have warned of heavy rainfall, flash floods, and strong winds that could damage crops and disrupt agriculture in several central regions.
In the Philippines, the province of Cebu suffered some of the worst devastation. As floodwaters receded, residents found their homes flattened, vehicles overturned, and roads blocked by debris. More than 200,000 people had been evacuated before Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall on Tuesday. Many have since returned to find their properties completely destroyed.
“The challenge now is debris clearing,” said Raffy Alejandro, a senior civil defense official. “We need to clear the roads quickly — not only to search for missing persons but also to ensure that relief operations can proceed.”
Even as Typhoon Kalmaegi—locally known as Tino—moved out of the Philippine monitoring zone, meteorologists are tracking another developing storm east of Mindanao. The system could strengthen into a new typhoon early next week, raising concerns of further damage.
Kalmaegi is the 20th major storm to strike the Philippines this year. Its impact comes just a month after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in northern Cebu killed dozens and displaced thousands.
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In Vietnam, the storm is expected to hit coffee-producing regions as it crosses the South China Sea. Authorities have mobilized soldiers for evacuation and rescue operations, while the country’s aviation authority warned that airports in Da Nang and seven other cities may face temporary closures due to dangerous weather conditions.
