Typhoon Kalmaegi Strikes Vietnam after Devastating Philippines
Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in Vietnam on Thursday, causing authorities to cancel hundreds of flights and order residents to remain indoors. This occurred two days after the storm swept through the Philippines, where it claimed at least 114 lives.
Storm Impact and Weather Conditions
The national weather forecaster reported that Kalmaegi brought winds up to 149 kilometres per hour. The typhoon caused severe damage by blowing roofs off homes, knocking down trees and telegraph poles, and generating waves reaching 10 metres (30 feet) high along the central coastal region.
Safety Measures and Emergency Response
- Six airports were closed.
- Over 260,000 people in Gia Lai province were evacuated to safer areas.
- The government prepared more than 268,000 soldiers for search and rescue missions.
Flood warnings were issued for low-lying areas, with concerns about agricultural damage, especially in the Central Highlands, Vietnam’s main coffee-producing region.
Local Experiences and Effects
Hotels and homes near Cua Dai beach, close to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hoi An, were secured as the storm neared. Near Hue, farmers were still recovering from recent floods that killed 47 people.
[translate:«Kalmaegi will flood us for the fourth time and I am afraid it will be quite bad,»] said rice farmer Nguyen Van Rin, 42, after guiding his boat through flooded roads as vehicles navigated slowly.
He added that the previous floods had drowned his livestock and poultry, highlighting the recurring challenges faced by local communities.
Summary: Typhoon Kalmaegi struck Vietnam with severe force days after devastating the Philippines, prompting significant evacuations and emergency responses while raising fears of continued agricultural and human losses.
Would you like the summary to be more detailed or concise?