Typhoon Kalmaegi battered the Philippines and Vietnam in early November, a deadly extreme weather event that caused widespread flooding and severe coastal erosion.
In the aftermath, however, an unexpected consequence of the disaster emerged — quite literally, according to CBS News.
So severe was the erosion that a long-lost, centuries-old shipwreck resurfaced on a beach near the city of Hội An, where the seabed is a notorious repository of unearthed artifacts.
Hội An is notable in part for its well-preserved history and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site of "Outstanding Universal Value" in 1999. The vessel was first located in 2023, but before anyone could retrieve it, the wreck was reclaimed by the sea.
This time around, Hội An's preservationists raced to ensure this important piece of the former port city's history stayed afloat.
"We are currently preparing to apply for an emergency excavation [authorization]," said Pham Phu Ngoc, director of Hội An's Center for the Preservation of World Cultural Heritage, per CBS.
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He observed that a larger portion of the ancient wreck had surfaced due to the severe erosion caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi, affording experts even more insight into the city's history as a trade hub.
Pham explained why securing the shipwreck — believed to have sunk between the 14th and 16th centuries — was critical from a historical standpoint and to cement Hội An's status as a trade hub in antiquity.
"The discovery of this ancient ship is clear evidence of Hoi An's significant historical role in regional trade," Pham remarked.
However, the same erosion that exposed the shipwreck could hamper efforts to study it. The Hội An Center for the Preservation of World Cultural Heritage warned the artifact was at risk of "serious deterioration without immediate conservation actions," due in part to severe weather.
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Definitely 👍 Although the potential recovery of a valuable, culturally significant shipwreck is technically good news, the erosion and environmental damage that exposed it remain a net negative, and Typhoon Kalmaegi was destructive in Vietnam and the harder-hit Philippines.
Talisay City resident Mely Saberon told the BBC that the storm was stronger and deadlier than typhoons past, a hallmark of extreme weather.
"We don't have any home anymore. We weren't able to salvage anything from our house," she said. "We didn't expect the surge of rain and wind. We've experienced many typhoons before, but this one was different."
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