Typhoon Kalmaegi batters inland Vietnam, prompting widespread calls for help

Typhoon Kalmaegi swept across central Vietnam late Thursday, leaving a trail of destruction from the coast of Quang Ngai to the inland provinces of Gia Lai and Dak Lak. With winds reaching 149 kilometers per hour at landfall, the storm uprooted trees, tore roofs from houses, shattered glass-fronted hotels, and caused power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of households.

By 9 p.m., the typhoon had weakened slightly to sustained winds of around 133 kph, but fierce gusts and torrential rain continued to batter inland areas. Waves surged into coastal homes, floodwaters rose rapidly, and emergency calls poured in from residents trapped or injured in the chaos.

One dead, widespread evacuations

Authorities in Dak Lak confirmed the first fatality when strong winds caused a house to collapse in Xuan Lanh Commune, killing 45-year-old Nguyen Quang Thang. Local officials said he was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries.

Across central Vietnam, more than 537,000 residents in Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, and Dak Lak were evacuated to safer areas. Over 61,000 fishing vessels with nearly 290,000 crew members were also ordered ashore as a precaution. Six regional airports suspended operations, while parts of the Da Nang–Quang Ngai Expressway and multiple national highways were closed due to flooding and fallen trees.

Rescue operations hindered by storm damage

In Gia Lai and Dak Lak, rescue teams struggled to reach stranded residents as blocked roads and fallen power lines cut off access. Ambulances from the SOS 115 rescue team in Binh Dinh sustained damage while attempting to respond to calls, with shattered windows and debris-filled roads forcing rescuers to proceed on foot in some cases.

The team reported receiving dozens of distress calls, including one involving a person with severe injuries from falling rocks in Quy Nhon Bac Ward. "All routes are blocked by debris and downed trees. We’re coordinating with firefighters for access," said team leader Nguyen Quoc Dat.

Buildings, hotels suffer extensive damage

In Quy Nhon Ward, fierce gusts shattered the tempered-glass panels of the seaside Hai Au Hotel, scattering debris across the floors and sending waves crashing into the pool area. "The wind howled nonstop — it felt like the entire building was shaking," said guest Nguyen Le Hoang Loi.

Along Pham Van Dong Street in Dak Lak, metal roofing sheets, signboards, and even heavy concrete planters were blown away.

Power blackouts spread across Gia Lai and Dak Lak, affecting nearly 200,000 households, while communications were disrupted in several districts. In Xuan Dai Ward, floodwaters inundated police offices, forcing officers to move documents and equipment to higher floors while continuing to receive calls for help.

In the Tam Quan coastal area, seawater breached embankments and flooded the local Border Guard station. Residents reported waves reaching over 4 meters and flooding homes for the first time in more than a decade. "The sea used to be 100 meters away — now it’s at our doorstep," said local resident Nguyen Hoang Minh Thu.

Transportation and infrastructure paralyzed

Passenger trains between Quang Ngai and Khanh Hoa were halted for safety, leaving multiple trains stranded at stations across the central region. Highways were littered with uprooted trees and debris, while several bridges in Da Nang were closed due to high winds.

By 10 p.m., the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that Typhoon Kalmaegi had weakened to 102 kph as it continued moving west-northwest at around 30 kph. However, heavy rain — up to 450 millimeters in some areas — was expected to persist through Nov. 8, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides.

Meteorologists warned that rivers across central Vietnam could swell to dangerous levels in the coming days. Local authorities continue to urge residents to remain indoors and avoid flooded or coastal areas until the storm fully passes.