Kuala Lampur, Nov. 8 -- When Typhoon Kalmaegi struck the central Philippines in early November 2025, the scale, swiftness and severity of the disaster stunned many. The typhoon killed at least 140 people and left 127 reported missing, in an event declared the deadliest natural disaster of the year worldwide.

While the Philippines is the focal point of this tragedy, the implications for the entire Southeast Asian region cannot be ignored. Kalmaegi is a warning: Southeast Asia is increasingly vulnerable - and not just to storms, but to a spectrum of climate change-amplified risks.

A perfect storm of vulnerability

The devastation wrought by Kalmaegi illustrates three converging risk factors that make Southeast Asia particularly exposed. ...