Kalmaegi, whose name means “seagull”, swept across the Philippines and Vietnam, leaving behind hundreds dead and entire neighbourhoods destroyed.
As Southeast Asia reels from the deadly impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi, another tropical storm, Typhoon Uwan, is gathering strength over the Pacific. The recent disaster has once again exposed how fragile coastal communities remain in the face of intensifying storms.
Kalmaegi, whose name means “seagull”, swept across the Philippines and Vietnam, leaving behind hundreds dead and entire neighbourhoods destroyed. Now, with Uwan on the horizon, countries brace for another test of preparedness and resilience.
The name Kalmaegi comes from the Korean word for “seagull.” The choice symbolizes movement and swiftness, much like how the storm glided across oceans, causing widespread destruction. The World Meteorological Organization assigns such names in rotation, with each name contributed by countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Typhoon Kalmaegi began as a tropical disturbance over the Philippine Sea around October 30, 2025. It gained strength under ideal sea conditions and was classified as a typhoon as it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), where it was locally named Tino by PAGASA.
Within days, it intensified, bringing torrential rain and violent winds that battered central Philippine provinces before moving toward Vietnam.
The storm struck the central Philippines first, flooding towns and uprooting homes. Provinces like Cebu and Negros Occidental saw entire districts washed away. After crossing the South China Sea, Kalmaegi made landfall in central Vietnam, where it continued to cause devastation.
Authorities reported at least 188 deaths in the Philippines and five in Vietnam, with hundreds injured and thousands displaced. Floods, power cuts, and collapsed infrastructure crippled daily life.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged officials to ensure aid reached even the most isolated areas, saying, “We must reach isolated areas and ensure people have food, drinking water, and essential supplies.”
Even before recovery could begin, Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong) began forming east of the Philippines. Meteorologists warn that Uwan could grow stronger than Kalmaegi as it moves closer to the country. PAGASA expects it to enter the PAR by Saturday, potentially escalating to a super typhoon by early next week.
The Philippine government has already begun evacuating coastal communities and preparing emergency shelters. PAGASA forecasts that Uwan could bring sustained winds up to 220 km/h and heavy rainfall over northern and central Luzon.
Local officials have urged residents to stock food and move livestock to higher ground. Authorities stress that early preparation could prevent the scale of loss witnessed during Kalmaegi.
Kalmaegi followed a west-northwest path, moving from the Philippine Sea to the Philippines, crossing the South China Sea, and finally striking central Vietnam. After landfall, it weakened into a tropical storm before dissipating inland over Cambodia and Laos.
Despite weakening, it caused widespread flooding, landslides, and severe infrastructure damage along its path.
