Typhoon Kalmaegi has left over 200 people dead in the Philippines and Vietnam, according to the latest figures from both countries. The total economic toll from the typhoon is expected to reach several hundred million dollars, according to global broker Aon.
As of Saturday, 8 November, at least 204 people were reported to have been killed in the Philippines, with at least 141 still missing and 121 injured, according to the Office of Civil Defence. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has earlier estimated that 12,677 houses were damaged, costing around P1.39 million (approximately US$23,606).
Central Philippines sustained significant damage after the first landfall, causing landslides and flooding through densely populated areas. The provinces of Cebu, Dinagat Islands, Leyte, and Surigao Del Norte were reported to be among the hardest hit.
Separately, at least five people have been killed and seven were injured in Vietnam, as of Friday, 7 November, according to local state media. Local officials are continuing to review the extent of the damage, especially in the provinces of Gia Lai and Dak Lak.
Based on Aon’s weekly catastrophe review, Kalmaegi intensified from a tropical depression on 1 November to severe tropical storm status the following day, with sustained winds of 95 kph and gusts up to 120 kph. It further strengthened into a typhoon on 4 November, with a maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 155 kph and gusts up to 180 kph.
“Independent analyses also suggest that the ultimate damage may have been exacerbated by rapid urbanisation and a lack of forest cover,” Aon said in its review, noting that these factors weakened natural drainage in impacted areas.
Another typhoon, Fung-Wong, locally referred to as Uwan, is also approaching the Philippines’ northern islands. As a result of the onslaught of Kalmaegi and the incoming powerful typhoon, the government declared a state of calamity across the country on Thursday.
