Typhoon Kalmaegi has left a trail of destruction across the Philippines, killing at least 180 people and displacing over 200,000 residents as it swept through Luzon and Visayas regions this week. Emergency teams report widespread flooding, landslides, and collapsed infrastructure, with rescue operations hampered by persistent rains.
The storm, packing sustained winds of 140 km/h, destroyed thousands of homes and submerged entire villages before moving westward toward Vietnam. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of calamity in affected areas, stating: "We are mobilizing all resources to ensure no one is left behind."
Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting issued evacuation orders for 800,000 people in coastal provinces ahead of Kalmaegi’s expected landfall. The disaster highlights growing concerns among climate scientists about intensified storm patterns in Southeast Asia’s typhoon corridor.
Business analysts warn of potential disruptions to agricultural exports and manufacturing supply chains, particularly in the Philippines’ electronics sector. The storm’s path threatens Vietnam’s coffee-growing regions, with global commodity markets monitoring the situation closely.
