Typhoon Kalmaegi Hits Vietnam
At least five people died in Vietnam after Typhoon Kalmaegi battered coastal areas with strong winds and heavy rain, officials confirmed on Friday. This followed the storm's deadly impact in the Philippines, where it claimed at least 188 lives.
Impact in Vietnam
The typhoon made landfall in central Vietnam late Thursday, uprooting trees, damaging homes, and causing power outages. As it moved inland, it weakened but continued to bring severe weather.
Warnings and Damage
- Authorities warned of heavy rainfall up to 200 millimeters in central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri.
- Rising river levels from Hue to Dak Lak may cause flooding and landslides.
- Approximately 2,800 homes sustained damage.
- About 1.3 million people lost electricity.
- Vietnam’s disaster management agency reported seven injuries.
Local Losses in Gia Lai Province
Gia Lai province, hit hardest by the storm, saw severe damage. Shrimp farm owner Nguyen Dinh Sa described catastrophic losses:
"I went to check them every hour yesterday until evening. I had done everything but could not save them," said Sa, 26, recalling the loss of about six metric tons of shrimp. "I am so desperate at the moment."
His two-story warehouse, holding shrimp feed, was briefly flooded by waves as high as seven meters amid powerful winds.
Aftermath
The typhoon caused widespread destruction along Vietnam’s coast, toppling trees, breaking glass, and tearing off roofing sheets. Residents gathered near generators to charge their phones amid the power outages.
Vietnam’s disaster management agency emphasized the ongoing threat of flooding and landslides, urging vigilance in affected areas.
Author's Summary
Typhoon Kalmaegi left severe devastation in Vietnam with five deaths, massive property damage, and critical flooding risks after already causing a high death toll in the Philippines.