Typhoon Kalmaegi has caused widespread destruction across Southeast Asia, killing 188 people in the Philippines and five in Vietnam.

With wind speeds reaching 149 km/h (92 mph), the storm unleashed torrential rains that triggered flash floods and mudslides, destroying homes and infrastructure and forcing thousands into emergency shelters.

In the Philippines, the government declared a national state of calamity after the typhoon dumped a month’s worth of rain on Cebu within 24 hours. Streets were swept by floodwaters carrying vehicles and shipping containers, while poor districts were buried in mud. At least 135 people remain missing, and over 10,000 have been evacuated. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has mobilized emergency forces in anticipation of further Pacific storms.

Vietnam’s central coast experienced severe damage overnight, with uprooted trees, collapsed roofs, and shattered windows. Airports and expressways were closed, and the military deployed 260,000 personnel, 6,700 vehicles, and six aircraft for relief operations. In Dak Lak province, hundreds reported flooded homes and infrastructure damage. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered aid delivery to isolated areas, stating, “No one left hungry or cold.”

As Kalmaegi moves west toward Cambodia and Laos, regional governments are bracing for additional flooding. The disaster highlights Southeast Asia’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, with Central Vietnam already suffering 50 deaths from prolonged rains earlier in the week.