Typhoon Kalmaegi sweeps central Vietnam with torrential rain
Typhoon Kalmaegi has been causing heavy rain from Quang Tri to Dak Lak provinces, with rainfall exceeding 300mm.
THE HANOI TIMES — Typhoon Kalmaegi weakened into a tropical depression on November 7 morning after it slammed into central Vietnam the previous night, but keeps bringing widespread torrential rain, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).
The storm, which made landfall in the central provinces of Dak Lak and Gia Lai with winds reaching 149 kilometers per hour (kph), uprooted trees, tore roofs from houses, shattered glass-fronted hotels and caused power outages to hundreds of thousands of households.
Many trees were blown down by the wind, blocking the road in Tuy An Bac Commune in Dak Lak Province. Photo: Dak Lak Newspaper
Before battering the central region, Kalmaegi still generated substantial winds across the affected area. Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai Province recorded wind speeds of 61-74 kph, while areas from Danang city to Dak Lak Province experienced speeds of 50-88 kph. Regions closer to the storm’s core felt the brunt of the winds peaking at 89-117 kph.
Heavy rainfall and initial casualties
The typhoon’s impact triggered heavy rainfall from Hue city to Khanh Hoa Province. 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.
Dak Lak Province recorded the highest accumulation at 354mm, followed by Quang Ngai with 283mm, and Gia Lai with 263mm.
Heavy rain remains in central provinces. Photo: Danang Newspaper
The weather pattern caused rising sea levels and flooding in several areas, damaging many houses. Authorities deployed rescue forces to support residents and assess the destruction.
A man in Xuan Lanh Commune, Dak Lak Province, died when his house collapsed, and two people in Gia Lai were injured while securing property and moving belongings.
Floods and landslides alerts
The NCHMF warned that areas from southern Quang Tri to Danang and the Central Highlands may receive 20mm–50mm of rain this morning, possibly exceeding 80mm in some places. Rainfall from Thanh Hoa to northern Quang Tri could reach 50–150mm, with local amounts over 200mm.
From November 7 to 9, water levels in major rivers, including Tra Khuc, Ve and Se San in Quang Ngai; Kon in Gia Lai; and Ba, Ky Lo and Srepok in Dak Lak may reach alert levels two to three, with some exceeding level three, the highest warning.
It is forecasted that from November 7 to November 9, there is a possibility of a flood on rivers from Quang Tri to Lam Dong provinces. Photo: Danang Newspaper
In Gia Lai and Dak Lak, rescue teams struggled to reach stranded residents as blocked roads and fallen power lines cut off access. They received dozens of distress calls, including one about a person seriously injured by falling rocks in Quy Nhon Bac Ward.
“All routes are blocked by debris and downed trees. We’re coordinating with firefighters for access,” a team leader, Nguyen Quoc Dat, told local media.
In Tam Quan, seawater breached embankments and flooded the local Border Guard station. Residents reported waves over four meters high and flooding for the first time in more than a decade.
“The sea used to be 100 meters away, now it’s at our doorstep,” Nguyen Hoang Minh Thu told local media.
Power blackouts spread across Gia Lai and Dak Lak, affecting about 200,000 households. Communications were disrupted in several districts. Highways were littered with uprooted trees and debris, and several bridges in Danang were closed due to high winds.
Roofs of many houses in Gia Lai Province are torn off by powerful gusts after the storm made landfall. Photo: Gia Lai Newspaper
The NCHMF reported that Typhoon Kalmaegi weakened to 102 kph while moving west-northwest at about 30 kph. Heavy rain, up to 450mm in some areas, was expected to persist through November 9, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides.
Meteorologists warned that rivers across central Vietnam could reach dangerous levels in the coming days. Authorities urged residents to stay indoors and avoid flooded or coastal areas until the storm passes.
At Cu Lao Cham in Quang Phu Ward, Danang city, waves of 1m-2m high hit the road. Photo: Danang Newspaper
Ly Son beach in Quang Ngai Province has heavy rain and strong winds. Photo: Quang Ngai Newspaper
Big waves at Pham Van Dong beach, Danang city. Photo: Danang Newspaper
