Gia Lai rescue forces reinforce the dyke at the Go Cham River ahead of the Typhoon Kalmaegi. Photo by Tuy Phuoc Bac Commune People's Committee.
By 6.30 pm on November 5, the province had relocated 2,337 households with 7,097 people. Remaining localities were ordered to complete evacuation before 12 pm on November 6.
Major General Le Quang Nhan, director of Gia Lai Provincial Police Department, said all police forces had been deployed in communities, remaining fully on standby to respond when the storm arrives.
“For households that hesitate or refuse to leave, authorities must enforce evacuation to ensure safety,” Nhan said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has rolled out coordinated measures including public guidance, securing houses, moving assets and providing logistical support for vulnerable areas.
Pham Anh Tuan, chair of the provincial People’s Committee, instructed local authorities to prevent residents from staying on boats, arrange safe mooring, suspend all construction activities and allow workers to stay home from November 6 to focus on storm response.
Tuan also ordered An Khe-Ka Nak Hydropower Plant to release water overnight on November 5 to prevent dangerous situations when the storm approaches. Shelters must be equipped with sufficient food, clean water and medical supplies.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 5 am today, November 6, the storm’s centre was about 390 km from Quy Nhon, with maximum wind speeds of 166 km/h, category 14, gusting to category 17. It was moving west-northwest at 30 km/h.
By 4 pm, the centre was about 120 km east of Quy Nhon, maintaining category 14 strength, gusting to 17, moving at 25-30 km/h. It is forecast to make landfall between Quang Ngai and Gia Lai between 7-8 pm today at maximum category 12.
By 4 am tomorrow, November 7, the centre is expected to be on the Quang Ngai-southern Laos border, with maximum winds of category 9, gusting to 11. Moving further inland, the storm will weaken to a tropical depression, then a low-pressure zone over eastern Thailand.
