Along a one-kilometre stretch of Vung Chao Beach, boats lay scattered and stacked after local and neighbouring vessels sought shelter. When Kalmaegi hit, powerful waves drove them onto the shore.
Large boats crushed smaller ones, many of which were shattered, a fisherman said.
Canoes and basket boats were pushed aground, with many sunk or badly damaged. Police and military forces have been deployed to support recovery.
Nguyen Thanh of Phu My Village said his VND 100 million (approximately USD 3,846) boat, his family’s only livelihood, was destroyed. He said he anchored as usual, but storm surge and strong winds smashed it apart, leaving him without an income.
Fishermen struggled to pull their vessels from the wreckage to return to sea. Nguyen Van Son of Song Cau Ward said most stranded boats were badly damaged, and some owners had abandoned salvage efforts.
Several large-capacity boats that had sought shelter were also washed ashore and remain stranded.
Roughly half the damaged vessels belonged to fishermen from neighbouring areas who had anchored in Vung Chao to avoid the storm, residents said.
Troops from Military Region 5 have been mobilised to help free boats trapped in debris, with additional vessels brought in to assist in retrieving those that sank.