Typhoon Kalmaegi hit Vietnam on Thursday, resulting in the cancellation of numerous flights and mandatory sheltering, following its recent impact in the Philippines where it caused at least 114 fatalities. With wind speeds reaching up to 149 kilometers per hour, the storm caused significant damage by tearing off roofs, toppling trees and telegraph poles, and generating waves up to 10 meters high along the central region’s coastline.
Authorities shut down six airports and evacuated over 260,000 individuals in Gia Lai province to safety due to the storm. This marked the 13th storm to strike Vietnam this year, ranking among the most intense ones. The government mobilized more than 268,000 soldiers for potential search and rescue missions, anticipating floods in low-lying areas, particularly affecting agricultural regions like the Central Highlands known for coffee cultivation.
Ahead of the storm, preparations were made as establishments and residences near Cua Dai beach, close to Hoi An, were secured. Meanwhile, in the vicinity of Hue, farmers were still recovering from recent floods that claimed 47 lives. Rice farmer Nguyen Van Rin expressed concerns over repeated flooding, which had already devastated his livelihood, signaling potential further damage.
Vietnam’s aviation sector braced for disruptions, with operations at eight airports, including Da Nang International Airport, expected to be impacted by Kalmaegi. Airlines and local authorities were advised to closely monitor the storm’s trajectory to ensure passenger safety.
In the Philippines, nearly two million people were affected by the typhoon, leading to the displacement of over 560,000 residents, with about 450,000 seeking refuge in emergency shelters. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency for the country in response to the widespread devastation caused by the typhoon.
The aftermath in the hardest-hit province of Cebu revealed extensive destruction, with flattened homes, overturned vehicles, and debris-laden streets. Over 200,000 individuals were evacuated prior to Kalmaegi’s landfall, and as the cleanup efforts commenced, challenges persisted in clearing debris swiftly to facilitate relief operations and locate any missing individuals.
Even as Typhoon Kalmaegi exited the Philippine monitoring zone, concerns arose over a potential new storm gathering strength east of Mindanao, posing threats for the following week. The impact of Kalmaegi, the 20th storm to hit the Philippines this year, compounded the challenges faced by the region following recent natural disasters, including a powerful earthquake in northern Cebu.