Gia Lai (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, who is deputy head of the National Civil Defence Steering Committee, on November 6 chaired an urgent meeting with leaders of Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Quang Ngai, Da Nang, Hue in the central region regarding response efforts to Typhoon Kalmaegi, the 13th storm in the East Sea this year.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep stated that this is an extremely dangerous storm – the largest ever to hit the region.
Currently, Gia Lai province has 13 communes and wards located in the danger zone, with wind speeds ranging from Level 11–13, gusting up to Level 15–16. In Quang Ngai province, seven communes and wards are in highly dangerous areas with winds of Level 10–12 and gusts up to Level 14–15. In Dak Lak, several coastal communes and wards are also within the danger zone.
According to Deputy Minister Hiep, such wind intensity could cause severe damage, ripping off roofs and posing serious threats to residents.
Therefore, he requested that starting from 18:00 on November 6, all the aforementioned communes and wards must strictly prohibit residents from going outdoors.
The period with the highest danger is between 20:00 on November 6 and 8:00 on November 7, and the storm's centre is predicted to hit the area between Gia Lai and southern Quang Ngai provinces, Hiep added.
Deputy PM Ha stated that Typhoon Kalmaegi is developing complicatedly, with a wide impact zone of about 100 km.
He requested local authorities to increase and allocate forces, equipment, and resources to vulnerable areas, ensuring readiness for rescue and disaster response operations, especially in areas prone to being isolated. The top priority is to implement measures that guarantee the safety of the people before the powerful storm makes landfall.
The Deputy PM also emphasised the need to ensure that no one remains on ships, boats, or in aquaculture zones when the storm hits. Units from the Military Region and Army Corps based in the region are to maintain strict readiness, with forces and equipment for rescue operations on standby. They must coordinate closely with local authorities in evacuating residents, reinforcing homes, and protecting military stations and warehouses.
On the same day, PM Pham Minh Chinh issued a dispatch, directing urgent measures to respond to this typhoon and accompanied floods.
The dispatch clearly states that the typhoon has intensified to Level 14, with gusts of up to Level 17, and is moving very quickly, at a speed of about 30–35 km/h, towards the inshore and mainland areas of the central and south-central regions.
Kalmaegi will trigger high waves of 3–8 metres along the coastline, combined with a sea level rise and a high tide, posing a significant danger to ships at sea, those anchored, especially fish farming cages, low-lying residential areas, and coastal infrastructure and activities.
The Government leader requested highest-level efforts to respond to the typhoon and following floods, with the most urgent and decisive spirit, in order to ensure the safety of lives, and minimise damage to both people's property and the State's assets as many areas have suffered from severe impacts of prolonged inundation.
Based on the specific situation in each locality, local authorities must proactively decide on measures such as banning sea activities early, potentially hours in advance, in case of storms, lightning, or other dangerous conditions; and controlling and restricting the movement of people and vehicles during the period of direct typhoon impact in order to minimise accidents and ensure the safety of people's lives.
Due to the complex developments of Typhoon Kalmaegi, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has announced a suspension of operations starting the afternoon of November 6 at five airports in the central region, including Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, Tuy Hoa, Chu Lai, and Phu Cat.
These airports will remain closed from the aftermoon of November 6 until the morning of November 7, depending on the storm's developments.
Specifically, Phu Cat Airport in Hue city will be temporarily closed from 16:00 on November 6 to 3:00 on November 7; Chu Lai in Da Nang city from 20:00 on November 6 to 5:00 on November 7; Tuy Hoa in Dak Lak province from 15:00 to 24:00 on November 6; Pleiku in Gia Lai province from 21:00 on November 6 to 6:00 on November 7; and Buon Ma Thuot in Dak Lak from 22:00 on November 6 to 6:00 on November 7./.
