Typhoon Kalmaegi Slams Storm-Battered Central Vietnam, Thousands Evacuated

On November 7th, 2025, Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in central Vietnam, battering a region already devastated by recent storms and flooding. The powerful cyclone, one of the deadliest in the world this year, has brought widespread destruction to the area, with winds reaching up to 149 kilometers per hour and much faster gusts.

In the province of Gia Lai, over 7,000 people have been evacuated as the typhoon hit, with officials going door-to-door to warn residents to seek shelter. Elderly women and children were among those taking refuge at a local school, carrying mats, pillows, and blankets. Vu Van Hao, a resident, described the wind as "so strong, nothing can resist," as he surveyed the shattered windows in a hotel lobby.

This latest disaster comes as central Vietnam was still reeling from more than a week of severe flooding and record rains that killed at least 47 people and submerged historic sites. Pham Anh Tuan, a top provincial official in Gia Lai, called Kalmaegi "a huge typhoon with terrible devastating capacity."

Vietnam is one of the most active tropical cyclone regions on Earth, typically affected by 10 storms a year. However, Kalmaegi is set to be the 13th typhoon to hit the country in 2025, underscoring the increasing frequency and intensity of these extreme weather events.