Deadly Typhoon Kalmaegi hammers central Vietnam, killing at least 2

NHA TRANG, Vietnam (AP) — Typhoon Kalmaegi brought fierce winds and torrential rains to Vietnam on Friday, days after the powerful storm battered the Philippines and left scores dead or missing.

Areas in central Vietnam reported damaged buildings, electricity polls and fallen trees as Kalmaegi weakened to a tropical storm and moved into Cambodia.

Vietnamese state media reported two deaths in Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces.

In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national emergency on Thursday as another potentially powerful typhoon was expected to slam into the Philippines’ western coast Sunday night or Monday morning.

Kalmaegi left at least 188 people dead and 135 missing in the deadliest natural disaster to hit the country this year, the Office of Civil Defense said.

Kalmaegi is expected to move through Laos and hit northeast Thailand in the afternoon. Thailand's Meteorological Department advised people in the region to be cautious of heavy to very heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flood or river overflows.

Three fishermen were reported missing on Thursday after their boat was swept away by strong waves on Ly Son, an island in Vietnam's Quang Ngai province. A search operation was launched but later suspended due to worsening weather, state media said.

Authorities said more than 537,000 people were evacuated, many by boat, as floodwaters rose and landslides loomed.

Vietnam's central provinces were already reeling from floods due to record-breaking rains. Kalmaegi is forecast to dump more than 24 inches of rain in some areas.

An unusually strong storm for the region in November, Kalmaegi packed sustained winds of about 183 kph (114 mph) with gusts reaching up to 220 kph (137 mph) over the South China Sea as it approached Vietnam.

Waves up to 3 meters (10 feet) high hit the coast in coastal cities like Danang, and strong winds uprooted trees in Dak Lak province. Many homes in Quy Nhon, also a coastal city, were left without power for hours.

The country’s financial hub, Ho Chi Minh City, faced a heightened risk of severe floods. High tides were expected on the Saigon River, and authorities warned up to 100 millimeters (4 inches) of expected rainfall could inundate low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, the next approaching storm, Fung-wong, was growing as it barrelled toward the Philippines over the Pacific. State forecasters said Fung-wong, known as Uwan in the Philippines, could grow to a massive estimated 1,400- kilometer (870-mile) diameter before it makes a landfall in northern Aurora province or nearby regions.

They warn that it could hit the densely populated area around the capital, Manila.

Typhoon Kalmaegi displaced more than 560,000 villagers in the Philippines, including nearly 450,000 who were evacuated to emergency shelters, the Office of Civil Defense said. More than 318,000 others are still in evacuation shelters.

Marcos was scheduled to visit Cebu on Friday, the hardest-hit central province, where the typhoon left 139 dead with 79 others missing.

“We suffered many deaths…it was very grave,” Marcos said on Thursday of Kalmaegi’s deadly aftermath, but he said “the biggest problem that we’re seeing is, we have to think who and how many of the personnel now handling government relief and support in the central Visayas region can be shifted to prepare for Uwan.”

In Cebu, rampaging floodwaters submerged or swept away scores of vehicles in scenes that were caught on camera by residents stranded on roofs.

One of the mourners was Krizza Espra, who went Thursday to a mortuary to see the bodies of her husband and three children, who were killed when the roof they were sheltering on collapsed.

She said four others in her family — including her mother and aunt — remain missing.

“I hope someone can help speed up the search for their bodies before (they) decompose, we hope we can still recognize them,” she said.

Marcos’s “state of national calamity” declaration allows the government to disburse emergency funds faster and prevent food hoarding and overpricing.

The Philippines experiences about 20 typhoons and storms each year. The country also is often hit by earthquakes and has more than a dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

Vietnam, which gets about a dozen typhoons and storms a year, has been pummeled by a relentless series this year, leaving little time to recover between disasters.

Typhoon Ragasa dumped torrential rain in late September, then Typhoon Bualoi slammed the central coast and Typhoon Matmo resulted in flooding in the north. Together, the three storms left more than 85 people dead or missing in two weeks, and caused an estimated $1.36 billion in damage.

Vietnam is among the world’s most flood-prone countries, with nearly half its population living in high-risk areas. Scientists warn that a warming climate is intensifying storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, making floods like this year’s increasingly destructive and frequent.

Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines. AP writers Jaqueline Hernandez in Cebu, Philippines, and Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Relatives and friends stand near coffins in Bacayan, Cebu province, Philippines on Friday Nov. 7, 2025 after Typhoon Kalmaegi devastated the province and claimed lives. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

A man walks past an uprooted tree in Dak Lak, Vietnam, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 after Typhoon Kalmaegi lashed the country with fierce winds and torrential rains. (Tuong Quan/VNA via AP)

Workers reinforce glass walls with scaffoldings ahead of Typhoon Kalmaegi in Quy Nhon, Vietnam Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Thanh Tung/VNExpress via AP)

People walk past a closed shop due to Typhoon Kalmaegi in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

A man walkspast a "No Swimming" sign due to Typhoon Kalmaegi on a beach in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

People watch rough waves caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)

Relatives wait beside coffins of their loved ones at a funeral parlor in Liloan, Cebu province, central Philippines on Thursday Nov. 6, 2025 after residents perished as they were swept away by strong currents at the height of Typhoon Kalmaegi. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

A man tries to retrieve a vehicle submerged in flood waters caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi in Liloan, Cebu province, central Philippines on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

Residents clear their flood damaged homes caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi in Liloan, Cebu province, central Philippines on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

Boats docked at a shelter in Nha Trang, Vietnam as Typhoon Kalmaegi moves toward the country, on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP photo/Hau Dinh)

Residents carry a motorcycle along a muddied street caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi, in Liloan, Cebu province, central Philippines on Thursday, Nov.6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

Residents walk along debris along a shoreline after Typhoon Kalmaegi caused devastation in communities at Talisay City, Cebu province, central Philippines, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

Residents walk along debris along a shoreline after Typhoon Kalmaegi caused devastation in communities at Talisay City, Cebu province, central Philippines, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

Residents clean up outside their homes after Typhoon Kalmaegi caused devastation in communities at Talisay City, Cebu province, central Philippines, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)

In this photo provided by the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Air Force personnel retrieve the remains of the pilots and crew of the Super Huey helicopter on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, a day after it crashed in Agusan del Sur province, southern Philippines while on a humanitarian and disaster response mission due to Typhoon Kalmaegi. (Philippine Air Force via AP)

In this photo provided by the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Air Force personnel retrieve the remains of the pilots and crew of the Super Huey helicopter on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, a day after it crashed in Agusan del Sur province, southern Philippines while on a humanitarian and disaster response mission due to Typhoon Kalmaegi. (Philippine Air Force via AP)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV expressed hope that the U.S.-Israel war on Iran could be finished before Easter in remarks to reporters as he left the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo outside of Rome on Tuesday.

“I’m told that President Trump has recently stated that he would like to end the war,’’ the U.S.-born pope said. “I hope that he’s looking for an off-ramp.’’

“Hopefully he’s looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that’s being created, that’s increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere.”

Leo called on all world leaders to return to dialogue and look for “ways to reduce the amount of violence,’’ so that “peace, especially at Easter, might reign in our hearts.’’

Leo's remarks came during Holy Week, the most sacred period of the year for Christians.

“It should be the holiest time of the year. It is a time of peace, a time of reflection. But as we all know, again, in the world, in many places we are seeing so much suffering, so many deaths, even innocent children,’’ Leo said. “We constantly make the call for peace, but unfortunately, many people want to promote hatred, violence, war.’’

On Palm Sunday, the pontiff said God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who make war or cite God to justify their violence, as he prayed especially for Christians in the Middle East during Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

Leaders on all sides of the Iran war have used religion to justify their actions. U.S. officials, especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have invoked their Christian faith to cast the war as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might.

Russia’s Orthodox Church, too, has justified Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “holy war” against a Western world it considers has fallen into evil.

As Holy Week continues, Leo will carry out the Holy Thursday foot-washing tradition in the basilica of St. John Lateran, where popes have performed it for decades. On Friday, Leo is due to preside over the Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum commemorating Christ’s Passion and crucifixion, and will carry the cross himself. Saturday brings the late night Easter Vigil, during which Leo will baptize new Catholics, followed a few hours later by Easter Sunday when Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.

Leo will celebrate Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square and then deliver his Easter blessing from the loggia of the basilica.

Pope Leo XIV talks to journalists as he leaves his residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome, to return to the Vatican, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV talks to journalists as he leaves his residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome, to return to the Vatican, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV talks to journalists as he leaves his residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome, to return to the Vatican, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV talks to journalists as he leaves his residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome, to return to the Vatican, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV talks to journalists as he leaves his residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome, to return to the Vatican, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)