Typhoon Kalmaegi wreaked havoc across Vietnam on March 15, 2024, resulting in at least five deaths and widespread destruction. The storm, which had already claimed numerous lives in the Philippines earlier in the week, left communities grappling with the aftermath as recovery efforts commenced. As Kalmaegi moved inland, residents began to assess the damage left behind.
In Vietnam, the provinces of Dak Lak and Gia Lai experienced severe impacts, with reports of three fatalities in Dak Lak and two in Gia Lai. Additionally, three individuals are reported missing in Quang Ngai. The storm caused substantial damage, with over 52 homes completely destroyed and nearly 2,600 others affected. Power outages disrupted electricity for more than 1.6 million households, while factories in Binh Dinh province suffered extensive damage due to flooding.
Residents in Dak Lak were met with a landscape of destruction as the sun broke through the clouds on Friday. Streets were cluttered with fallen debris, and families worked tirelessly to clear mud and restore their homes. Shopkeepers displayed waterlogged goods in hopes of salvaging their businesses, while others patched roofs and swept away remnants of the storm.
Philippines in Mourning and Preparing for Another Storm
In the Philippines, the situation remains dire as the nation mourns the loss of at least 188 individuals, with an additional 135 missing. The Office of Civil Defense reported that over half a million people have been displaced due to flooding, with nearly 450,000 evacuated to shelters. As communities in Cebu gathered to honor their dead, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national emergency in anticipation of another storm, Typhoon Fung-wong, set to approach early next week.
Survivors in Cebu, where flooding resulted in 139 fatalities, are grappling with profound grief. Jimmy Abatayo, who tragically lost his wife and nine relatives, expressed his sorrow as he mourned at a makeshift funeral site. “I told my family to swim, you will be saved, just swim, be brave and keep swimming,” he recalled, overwhelmed with guilt that his warnings went unheard.
As authorities prepare for the impending arrival of Fung-wong, weather forecasts predict the storm could cover an area of approximately 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) before making landfall in northern Aurora province. The densely populated capital region, Manila, could also be at risk.
Ongoing Challenges and Climate Concerns
The devastation from Kalmaegi is compounded by the fact that Vietnam’s central region is still recovering from previous floods caused by record-breaking rains. This year alone, the country has faced a relentless sequence of storms, with Typhoon Ragasa, Typhoon Bualoi, and Typhoon Matmo contributing to significant loss of life and estimated damages exceeding $1.36 billion.
The Philippines experiences around 20 typhoons each year, making it one of the most disaster-prone countries globally. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of storms across Southeast Asia. Kristen Corbosiero, a professor of atmospheric and environmental sciences at the University at Albany, noted that Kalmaegi and Fung-wong are the 26th and 27th named storms of this season, highlighting an upward trend in storm activity.
As Kalmaegi weakened into a tropical storm and moved towards Cambodia on Friday, the focus shifted to recovery and preparation for the next challenge. Communities in both Vietnam and the Philippines face a long road ahead as they rebuild and brace for future storms, underscoring the critical need for resilience in the face of increasingly severe weather events.
