Typhoon Kalmaegi Looms as Floods Kill 40 in Vietnam

At least 40 people have been confirmed dead following a week of torrential rain and severe flooding in central Vietnam, authorities announced on Tuesday.

The affected regions, including Hue, Da Nang, Lam Dong, and Quang Tri provinces, have been hit by record rainfall that turned streets into rivers, overflowed banks, and submerged entire communities.

Vietnam’s environment ministry reported that up to 1.7 metres of rainfall was recorded in just 24 hours — the highest in the country’s history. Six people are still missing as rescue operations continue in hard-hit areas.

Authorities have warned that the situation could worsen, with Typhoon Kalmaegi expected to make landfall early Friday. The storm, currently battering the Philippines, has already claimed at least two lives and displaced hundreds of thousands.

According to Vietnam’s national weather bureau, the approaching typhoon could strike with winds of up to 166 kilometres per hour, heightening fears of further destruction.

The central region remains in crisis, with landslides cutting off several remote areas. Nearly 80,000 homes are still underwater, over 10,000 hectares of farmland destroyed, and more than 68,000 livestock lost, officials confirmed.