MANILA/HO CHI MINH CITY, – A powerful typhoon named Kalmaegi has left a trail of heartbreak across Southeast Asia. Known locally as Tino in the Philippines, the storm slammed into the central islands on November 4, killing at least 188 people and leaving 135 others missing. It then barreled into central Vietnam on November 6, claiming five more lives and flooding homes for thousands. As of today, the total death toll stands at 193, with over 500,000 people still displaced in both countries.
The storm dumped a month’s rain in just 24 hours, turning streets into rivers and mountainsides into mudslides. In the Philippines’ Cebu province, entire neighborhoods vanished under floodwaters. In Vietnam’s Gia Lai and Dak Lak areas, winds up to 149 km/h tore off roofs and uprooted trees. Rescue teams are still digging through debris, but a new worry looms: another typhoon, Fung-wong (Uwan locally), is heading toward the Philippines.
This is the deadliest storm of 2025 so far, according to global disaster trackers. It comes after a busy typhoon season that has already seen 25 named storms in the Pacific. Experts say warmer ocean waters, linked to climate change, are making these storms stronger and more frequent.
How Typhoon Kalmaegi Formed and Struck – A Step-by-Step Path of Destruction
Typhoon Kalmaegi started as a patch of clouds over the Pacific on October 30. By November 1, it became a tropical depression. Two days later, Japan’s weather agency named it Kalmaegi – a Korean word for “seagull” – as it grew into a full typhoon with winds over 130 km/h.
On November 4, it hit the Philippines first. The storm made landfall near Silago town in southern Leyte at midnight, then swept across Cebu and Negros islands by morning. Winds reached 183 km/h, and gusts hit 205 km/h. But it was the rain – over 500 mm in places – that caused the real havoc. Rivers like the Mananga in Cebu burst their banks, sweeping away cars, homes, and people.
In Cebu City, a busy port hub, floodwaters rose so fast that buses and shipping containers floated like toys. One eyewitness, Maria Santos, a 45-year-old shopkeeper from Talisay, climbed onto her roof as water reached chest height. “I held my two kids tight. The current was like a monster pulling everything,” she told local reporters. Her home is gone, but her family survived.
By November 5, Kalmaegi moved into the South China Sea and strengthened again. It hit Vietnam’s central coast near Quy Nhon in Gia Lai province on November 6 evening. Here, too, the rain was endless – 300 mm in hours – flooding low-lying farms and beaches. A fisherman in Quang Ngai, Nguyen Van Rin, 42, rowed his boat through what used to be a road. “This is the fourth flood this year. My animals drowned last time, and now my rice is under water,” he said.
The storm weakened to a tropical depression by November 7 as it crossed into Laos and Cambodia, but not before triggering landslides that buried roads and homes. In Thailand, it added three more deaths from flash floods.
| Timeline of Typhoon Kalmaegi Hits | Date | Location | Key Impacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation | Oct 30, 2025 | Pacific Ocean | Becomes tropical depression |
| First Landfall | Nov 4 | Leyte, Philippines | Winds 130 km/h; early floods |
| Peak Fury | Nov 4-5 | Cebu/Negros, PH | 188 deaths; 500K displaced |
| Vietnam Strike | Nov 6 | Gia Lai/Dak Lak | 5 deaths; 537K evacuated |
| Weakens | Nov 7 | Laos/Cambodia | Landslides; 3 deaths in Thailand |
Heartbreaking Toll: Deaths, Missing, and Lives Upended
The numbers paint a grim picture, but behind them are families shattered. In the Philippines, 188 confirmed deaths – mostly from drowning (over 100), landslides (45), and falling debris (30). Cebu alone saw 142 fatalities, with 96 injured and 135 unaccounted for. Many missing are from poor riverside areas where homes are simple wood and tin. A military helicopter crashed during rescue ops in Mindanao, killing six crew – a blow to those hoping for quick help.
In Vietnam, five deaths came from collapsed homes and people swept to sea off Ly Son island. Three are still missing there. But the floods hit harder later – over 55 dead from follow-up rains, with 13 missing as of November 22. Provinces like Dak Lak and Gia Lai saw 235,000 homes flooded, wiping out coffee crops worth millions.
Survivors share raw stories. In Cebu, 28-year-old factory worker Jose Ramirez lost his wife and son when their car was swept into a swollen river. “I grabbed a branch and held on for hours. Now, I search the mud every day,” he said, voice breaking during a BBC interview. In Quy Nhon, Vietnam, a mother of three, Lan Thi Ho, sheltered in a school classroom turned evacuation center. “The wind howled like ghosts. We lost our roof, but we’re alive. That’s God’s grace,” she told CNN.
Kids are suffering too. Over 100 schools in Cebu are damaged, and in Vietnam, 62,000 people – many families – were boat-evacuated from rooftops. Power outages hit 1 million homes, and diseases like dengue are rising in crowded shelters.
Governments Step Up – Emergency Declarations and Rescue Drives
Leaders acted fast, but the scale tested them. In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a “state of calamity” on November 6 – the highest alert, unlocking billions in emergency funds. “This is a national crisis. We will rebuild stronger,” Marcos said during a visit to Cebu evacuation centers on November 7, where he handed out food and blankets. He ordered cabinet members to the ground and put the health department on “code white” for quick medical aid.
Cebu province declared its own calamity, shifting earthquake recovery gear to flood zones. Over 500,000 were displaced nationwide, with the Red Cross leading rescues – pulling people from trees and rooftops. “We’re giving hot meals, clean water, and hope,” said Philippine Red Cross chief Richard Gordon.
In Vietnam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held an online crisis meeting on November 6. “Reach every isolated spot. No one goes without food or water,” he urged officials. The army mobilized 260,000 troops, 6,700 vehicles, and six planes for relief. Over 537,000 were evacuated by boat before landfall – a record effort. Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha called it a “very abnormal” storm, pushing for urgent local action.
But challenges remain. In Vietnam, follow-up rains have killed 55 more, with 300,000 still without power. Marcos warned of Fung-wong: “It could be even worse. Evacuate now.”
International Help Pours In – Aid from Neighbors and Far Away
The world didn’t wait. The US pledged $1.5 million in emergency aid, plus 450 troops for relief in the Philippines – delivering shelters, water, and meds. “We’re with our allies in this dark time,” said US Ambassador Marykay Carlson.
China sent $2.4 million for both Kalmaegi and the next storm, while Australia gave $3 million. Taiwan donated $500,000 via its Manila office on November 21. Japan, Canada, and Timor-Leste offered engineers and firefighters for cleanup.
The Red Cross and UN are coordinating. “We’ve reached 370,000 displaced in Cebu alone with basics,” said IFRC’s Gwendoline Abunaw. But experts warn: damages could top $1 billion, hitting poor farmers hardest.
Why These Storms Are Getting Worse – The Climate Angle
Southeast Asia sits in “typhoon alley.” The Philippines gets 20 storms a year; Vietnam, 10-12. But 2025 is record-breaking – 25 named storms already, with three more expected. Kristen Corbosiero, a storm expert at the University at Albany, says warmer seas – 1-3°C above normal – fuel bigger rains and winds. “Climate change loads the dice for disasters like this,” she told ABC News.
In Cebu, a recent earthquake weakened dams, making floods deadlier. Vietnam’s October rains left soil soaked, so landslides came easy. UN climate chief Simon Stiell called for global action: “These hits show why we need resilient farms and early warnings now.”
The Long Road to Recovery – Rebuilding Amid New Threats
Cleanup is slow. In Cebu, folks like Maria Santos shovel mud from what’s left of homes. “We need seeds, tools – anything to start over,” she says. Vietnam’s coffee belt lost 80,000 hectares – a big blow to exports.
With Fung-wong nearing, Marcos urged: “Don’t wait – move to safety.” Vietnam’s weather office warns of more rain till November 24. Heartwarming notes too: A dog swept away in Cebu floods returned home after two weeks, drawing smiles amid tears.
As neighbors rally, the message is clear: Unity beats storms.
FAQs on Typhoon Kalmaegi 2025
1. What caused the high death toll in the Philippines?
Most of the 188 deaths came from drowning in flash floods – over 100 cases – as rivers overflowed after 500 mm of rain in a day. Landslides buried 45 people in hilly Cebu areas, and 30 died from falling trees or debris. Poor drainage and a recent earthquake that cracked dams made it worse. Rescue delays hit hard too, with a chopper crash killing six helpers.
2. How is Vietnam coping with the floods?
The five direct deaths were from home collapses and sea sweeps, but follow-up rains pushed the toll to 55, with 13 missing. Over 537,000 were evacuated pre-storm, saving lives. Army teams with boats reached rooftops, but 235,000 homes flooded, ruining crops. Power’s out for 300,000, and more rain (up to 300 mm) is forecast till Nov 24. PM Chinh’s orders focus on food and water drops.
3. What relief is coming from other countries?
US: $1.5M aid + 450 troops for water/shelter. China: $2.4M cash. Australia: $3M. Taiwan: $500K handed over Nov 21. Red Cross: Meals for 370K in PH. UN: Coordinating global funds. Timor-Leste sent firefighters. Total aid so far: Over $7M, but experts say $1B needed for full rebuild.
4. Is climate change behind stronger typhoons like this?
Yes, say experts. Warmer Pacific waters (1-3°C hotter) give storms more energy for heavy rain. 2025 has 25 named storms vs. normal 23 by now. Philippines/Vietnam see year-round risks now. Better dykes and warnings help, but global cuts in emissions are key, per UN reports.
5. What’s next for the region – another storm?
Typhoon Fung-wong (Uwan) eyes northern Philippines by Nov 23-24, possibly stronger than Kalmaegi. Winds could hit 200 km/h. Marcos declared extra alerts; Vietnam braces for spillover rains. Three more storms possible by year-end.
6. How can people help from afar?
Donate to Red Cross (philredcross.org) or Vietnam Fatherland Front. US folks: USAID site. Track updates via PAGASA (PH weather) or Vietnam’s NCHMF. Share verified stories to raise awareness – avoid rumors.