Typhoon Kalmaegi, the deadliest tropical cyclone of 2025, carved a path of destruction across the Philippines and Vietnam in early November, leaving a staggering death toll and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. The powerful storm unleashed unprecedented flooding and landslides in the central Philippines before making landfall in Vietnam, where it compounded the damage from recent record-breaking rainfall. The combined impact has triggered a massive humanitarian response as emergency crews grapple with widespread devastation and infrastructure damage across both nations.
The storm, known locally in the Philippines as “Tino,” struck with ferocious intensity, bringing sustained winds of approximately 183 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching up to 220 km/h as it neared Vietnam. In the Philippines, the amount of rainfall was described by one meteorologist as 1.5 times the typical precipitation for the entire month of November, an event expected only “once every 20 years.” After devastating the Philippines, Kalmaegi made landfall in central Vietnam, north of Gia Lai province, on November 6, lashing an area already saturated by floods that had claimed dozens of lives. Vietnamese authorities had issued evacuation orders for thousands in coastal communities ahead of the storm, which was the 13th to affect the country in 2025.
Devastation in the Philippines
The Philippines bore the initial and most severe brunt of Typhoon Kalmaegi, with official figures reporting at least 188 deaths and 135 people missing. The central province of Cebu was the most heavily impacted region, accounting for 139 of the fatalities. The national civil defense office confirmed a slightly lower toll of 114 deaths, but this did not include all the fatalities recorded by provincial authorities. The storm’s passage has so far been the deadliest natural disaster to hit the country this year.
The typhoon’s torrential rains triggered massive, fast-rising floods, described by witnesses as unprecedented. Floodwaters surged through towns and cities in Cebu province, sweeping away vehicles, homes, and even large shipping containers. One resident of Mandaue, a city in the Cebu metropolitan area, described the water as “so strong that you couldn’t even step outside,” adding that “nothing like this has ever happened.” The highly urbanized nature of the communities around Cebu City contributed to the high death toll. The disaster displaced more than 500,000 Filipinos, with nearly 537,000 people evacuated from their homes as the waters rose. Many of these evacuees are being housed in thousands of temporary evacuation centers.
Kalmaegi’s Impact on Vietnam
After crossing the South China Sea, Typhoon Kalmaegi slammed into Vietnam’s central coast late on November 6, killing at least five people and injuring seven. The storm made landfall in a region already grappling with severe flooding from prior record rainfall that had resulted in 47 deaths. Forecasters warned that Kalmaegi could dump more than 24 inches (600 millimeters) of additional rain in some areas, exacerbating the risk of landslides and flash floods. Continuing heavy rainfall of up to 200 mm was forecast for central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri.
The typhoon’s powerful winds uprooted trees, damaged approximately 2,800 homes, and caused widespread power outages affecting an estimated 1.6 million households. In coastal cities like Quy Nhon and Danang, waves reached up to 3 meters, and residents reported shattered glass and roofing materials scattered through the streets. The storm also caused significant damage to infrastructure, including the railway in Quang Ngai province. The agricultural sector in the Central Highlands, Vietnam’s primary coffee-growing region, faces significant threats from potential flooding.
Emergency and Government Response
In response to the crisis, both governments have mobilized extensive search, rescue, and relief operations. The Vietnamese government deployed more than 268,000 soldiers to assist with rescue efforts and recovery work. As floodwaters began to recede in some areas, residents joined officials to clear debris and begin repairing damaged homes and buildings. In the Philippines, rescue crews continue to search for the dozens of people who remain missing, particularly in the rubble of homes destroyed by landslides. A state of calamity was declared in the hardest-hit areas to expedite relief efforts.
Aviation authorities in Vietnam canceled or delayed at least 50 flights across eight airports as a safety precaution during the typhoon’s peak. Both nations are facing a significant humanitarian challenge in providing food, shelter, and medical assistance to the vast number of displaced individuals. The long-term recovery will involve rebuilding homes, restoring power and communication lines, and repairing critical infrastructure.
Meteorological Context and Future Threats
Typhoon Kalmaegi, also designated Storm No. 13 in Vietnam, was an unusually powerful storm for this late in the season. It made five landfalls across the central Philippines with typhoon-category strength before re-intensifying over the sea and heading for Vietnam. According to the Philippines’ state weather service, PAGASA, the country typically sees an average of 20 tropical storms per year, and Kalmaegi has already met that number for 2025. Forecasters warn that three to five more storms could potentially develop before the end of the year.
As relief efforts for Kalmaegi continue, meteorologists are already monitoring another developing tropical cyclone, currently designated TC 32W, which is expected to be named Fung-wong. This new system is building east of the Philippines and could pose another threat to the storm-battered region in the coming days, highlighting the relentless nature of the typhoon season in the Western Pacific.
