Typhoon Kalmaegi Hits Vietnam After Devastating the Philippines
Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in Vietnam on Thursday, prompting authorities to cancel hundreds of flights and order residents to remain indoors. The storm had earlier swept through the Philippines, causing the deaths of at least 114 people.
Storm Impact and Response
The national weather forecaster reported that Kalmaegi brought winds up to 149 kilometres per hour. The typhoon caused significant damage by blowing off roofs, knocking down trees and telegraph poles, and generating waves up to 10 metres (30 feet) high along the central coastal region.
Officials shut down six airports, and the government evacuated over 260,000 people in Gia Lai province to safer locations.
This is the 13th storm to hit Vietnam this year and ranks among the most powerful. The government has mobilized more than 268,000 soldiers for search and rescue missions and warned of potential floods in low-lying areas. Agriculture, especially in the Central Highlands — Vietnam’s primary coffee-growing region — is expected to be affected.
Local Effects and Precautions
Hotels and residences near Cua Dai beach, close to the UNESCO-listed town of Hoi An, were closed as a precaution. Farmers near Hue, which recently experienced deadly floods that claimed 47 lives, were still recovering.
Nguyen Van Rin, a 42-year-old rice farmer, said, "Kalmaegi will flood us for the fourth time and I am afraid it will be quite bad."
He described how the previous floods had killed his livestock and poultry.
Summary: Typhoon Kalmaegi has struck Vietnam with destructive force after causing deadly damage in the Philippines, leading to large-scale evacuations and emergency mobilization across affected regions.
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