Typhoon Kalmaegi, after causing 114 deaths and widespread devastation in the Philippines, made landfall in Vietnam on Thursday, prompting a massive emergency response and immediate reports of damage.
Vietnam mobilized 260,000 soldiers and personnel with 6,700 pieces of equipment, including six aircraft, for emergency assistance. Six airports across the country were temporarily closed, affecting hundreds of flights.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh convened an online meeting, urging local agencies to swiftly reach cut-off areas. He emphasized that no one should die from hunger or cold.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment warned that over seven additional provinces were at high risk of flash floods and landslides in the coming hours.
The typhoon made landfall in Dak Lak and Gia Lai provinces in Vietnam’s central highlands Thursday evening, local time. In Dak Lak, approximately 350 kilometers (217 miles) from Ho Chi Minh City, residents reported widespread destruction with homes collapsing and areas completely flooded.
Strong winds toppled trees, ripped off roofs, and shattered hotel windows in coastal areas, including the city of Quy Nhon. Waves in the South China Sea were predicted to reach up to 8 meters (26 feet).
Major tourist destinations like Hue and Hoi An were already inundated from heavy rains the previous week. Residents in these cities resorted to using boats to navigate flooded streets.
The landfall in Vietnam followed Kalmaegi’s devastating sweep through the Philippines, where it killed at least 114 people. The typhoon, known locally as Tino in the Philippines, unleashed a month’s worth of rain on Cebu island in just 24 hours.
Torrential currents swept away cars, container ships, and buildings, leaving many communities as piles of wreckage and thick mud. Over 100,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a nationwide state of emergency Thursday morning to accelerate relief efforts.
Neighboring Thailand also prepared for the typhoon’s effects. Local authorities issued warnings for heavy rain, flash floods, landslides, and overflowing rivers in several northern and northeastern provinces.