Typhoon Kalmaegi Batters Vietnam, Another Storm Threatens the Philippines
HANOI, Vietnam – Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in Vietnam Friday as the country’s central region continued to recover from devastating floods triggered by record rainfall. Together, the Philippines is bracing for the arrival of a new, as-yet-unnamed storm, raising concerns of further widespread disruption in a region increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Authorities in Vietnam evacuated over 537,000 people, many by boat, ahead of Kalmaegi’s arrival, as rising floodwaters and the threat of landslides loomed. The storm is forecast to deliver up to 24 inches (600 millimeters) of rain in some areas before moving into Laos and northeast Thailand.three Vietnamese fishermen remain missing after their boat was swept away by strong waves near Ly Son Island off Quang Ngai province, though search efforts were suspended Thursday due to deteriorating conditions.
The double threat underscores the growing frequency and intensity of typhoons and storms impacting southeast Asia. The Philippines, typically experiencing around 20 typhoons and storms annually, and Vietnam, hit by roughly a dozen each year, have both endured a relentless storm season. Vietnam has been particularly hard-hit in recent weeks, following torrential rains from Typhoon Ragasa in late september, and subsequent impacts from typhoons Bualoi and matmo, which collectively caused over 85 deaths or missing persons and an estimated $1.36 billion in damage.
scientists attribute the increasing severity of these storms to a warming climate. “If you look at the climatology for the Philippines and for Vietnam, it’s almost the entire year that thay can get them because the warm waters that fuel the storm just are there,” explained Kristen Corbosiero, a professor of atmospheric and environmental sciences at the University at Albany. She noted that Kalmaegi and Fung-Wong are the 26th and 27th named storms of the season, exceeding the typical 23 by this time of year, and that Kalmaegi ranks as the fourth strongest typhoon this season.
The approaching storm to the Philippines adds to the region’s anxieties,highlighting the urgent need for preparedness and mitigation strategies in the face of a changing climate.