Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in Vietnam on Thursday, resulting in the cancellation of numerous flights and mandatory sheltering orders, following its recent devastation in the Philippines where it claimed the lives of over 100 individuals. With wind speeds reaching up to 149 kilometers per hour, the typhoon caused significant damage in the central region, including tearing off roofs, uprooting trees and telegraph poles, and generating waves as high as 10 meters.
Authorities shut down six airports and relocated more than 260,000 residents in Gia Lai province to safer locations. This marked the 13th storm to strike Vietnam this year, ranking among the most severe. The government mobilized over 268,000 soldiers for potential search and rescue missions and warned of flooding risks in low-lying areas, particularly affecting agricultural regions like the Central Highlands, a key coffee-producing area.
As communities braced for the storm’s impact, Cua Dai beach near the historic town of Hoi An saw establishments closing down, while farmers near Hue were still recuperating from recent floods that claimed the lives of 47 individuals. Rice farmer Nguyen Van Rin expressed concerns about the impending floodwaters, having already suffered significant losses from previous inundations.
Aviation authorities in Vietnam anticipated disruptions at eight airports, including Da Nang International Airport, urging airlines and local agencies to monitor the typhoon closely to safeguard passenger welfare. Meanwhile, Hoi An and Hue were recovering from earlier floods that resulted in 35 fatalities.
In the Philippines, nearly two million people were affected by Kalmaegi, with over half a million individuals displaced, including a large number evacuated to emergency shelters. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency as the province of Cebu bore the brunt of the destruction, leaving homes destroyed and streets strewn with debris. Evacuations were conducted, and residents returned to damaged properties, commencing arduous cleanup efforts.
Despite Kalmaegi exiting the Philippine region, meteorologists were monitoring a potential storm east of Mindanao that could intensify into another typhoon, raising concerns for the following week. The aftermath of Kalmaegi, the 20th storm to affect the Philippines this year, compounded the challenges faced by communities recovering from a recent earthquake in northern Cebu.
