Typhoon Kalmaegi Hits Vietnam After Philippines Devastation
Typhoon Kalmaegi caused severe damage in Vietnam's coastal areas, killing at least five people, following a deadly impact in the Philippines where the death toll reached 188.
Storm Impact in Vietnam
Making landfall late Thursday in central Vietnam, the typhoon uprooted trees, damaged homes, and caused widespread power outages. As it moved inland, the storm weakened but heavy rains continued.
Weather Warnings
- Authorities forecasted up to 200 millimeters of rainfall in central provinces ranging from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri.
- Rising river levels between Hue and Dak Lak raised concerns over possible flooding and landslides.
Damage in Gia Lai Province
Gia Lai province suffered the worst effects, especially shrimp farms. Nguyen Dinh Sa, a 26-year-old shrimp farm owner, reported catastrophic losses.
"I went to check them every hour yesterday until evening. I had done everything but could not save them," Sa said, mourning the loss of around six metric tons of shrimp. "I am so desperate at the moment."
Sa’s two-storey warehouse, used to store shrimp feed, was briefly flooded by seven-meter-high waves and strong winds.
Overall Destruction
- Along the coast, there were fallen trees, shattered glass, and destroyed roofing sheets.
- Residents gathered around generators to recharge phones amid power outages.
- Vietnam’s disaster agency reported seven injuries and approximately 2,800 homes damaged.
- About 1.3 million people were left without electricity.
"About 1.3 million people were without electricity," said Vietnam's disaster management agency.
Author’s summary: Typhoon Kalmaegi caused widespread destruction in Vietnam, claiming lives, damaging homes and infrastructure, and leaving millions without power as heavy rains continue.