Typhoon Kalmaegi kills 140 in Philippines, heading towards Vietnam

Record flooding devastates Cebu province

Unprecedented rainfall caused rivers to overflow and sent torrents of water through towns and cities in Cebu province, sweeping away cars, homes, and even large shipping containers. The National Civil Defence Office confirmed 114 deaths, while local authorities in Cebu reported an additional 28 fatalities, bringing the total to 140.

In Liloan, near Cebu City and severely affected, floodwaters caused cars to pile up and tore roofs off buildings. Residents described survival scenes as waters surged rapidly. Christine Aton lost her disabled sister Michelle, recalling that they couldn’t open her door as the refrigerator floated. Chyros Roa credited their dog’s barking for waking them up in time to reach the roof, as rescuers couldn’t reach everyone—some were swept away.

State of national calamity declared

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national calamity on Thursday, authorising the government to release emergency aid funds and impose price caps on essential goods. Meteorologist Benison Estareja from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the rainfall from Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1.5 times the average monthly precipitation for Cebu, calling it a “once-every-20-years” event.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro described the situation as “unprecedented,” while residents compared the disaster to Super Typhoon Haiyan (2013), which remains one of the Philippines’ deadliest storms. Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying tropical storms, with warmer oceans and moisture-laden air fuelling more severe typhoons.

Vietnam braces for landfall

As Kalmaegi moves westward, Vietnam is preparing for impact. The storm’s wind speeds continue to increase, and it is expected to make landfall in central Vietnam late Thursday, bringing waves up to eight metres (26 feet) and severe storm surges, according to the country’s national weather bureau.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha warned that the storm posed “urgent and dangerous” threats, describing Kalmaegi as “a very abnormal typhoon. Authorities have evacuated thousands from coastal areas, with officials in Quy Nhon city seen going door-to-door urging residents to flee.

This marks the 13th typhoon to affect Vietnam in 2025—three more than the annual average—while the Philippines has already reached its yearly storm count of 20. Meteorologists predict three to five more storms before the year’s end.

Meanwhile, tropical storm Fung-wong, developing east of Luzon, could intensify into a super typhoon by Monday, heightening concerns for the already storm-affected region.