Vietnam is bracing for Typhoon Kalmaeji, which is expected to make landfall just north of the coastal city of Quy Nhon. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of thousands of people from their homes and are taking urgent measures in the air transport sector.
Six airports closed, hundreds of flights affected
The Vietnamese government announced it has ordered the closure of six airports in total in preparation for the storm’s arrival. It noted that the closure of five of these airports will affect hundreds of flights across the country.
The airports that have been closed or have suspended operations are Buon Ma Tut, Bleiko, Tuy Hoa, Chi Lai Phu Cat, and Lin Kong.
Vietnam Airlines, the national carrier, confirmed that more than 50 flights had been canceled or rescheduled. Aviation authorities also reported that approximately eight airports in the central region, including Da Nang International Airport, had suspended operations or were preparing to do so.
Evacuation of 100,000 families
As a large-scale precaution, nearly 100,000 households were evacuated from the neighboring province of Jia Lai as of noon local time (05:00 GMT), in an effort to minimize potential casualties from the storm.
Central and northern regions are bracing for the arrival of the hurricane, while emergency teams are working to secure coastal and vulnerable areas.
