Vietnam Hit by 13th Typhoon of the Year as 'Nalgae' Strikes Central Coastal Region

Typhoon 'Nalgae' made landfall today, the 6th, in Vietnam's flood-stricken central region. Prior to this, Nalgae had already triggered devastating floods in the Philippines, resulting in at least 140 deaths and 127 missing.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Environment stated that Typhoon Nalgae made landfall that evening in Dak Lak and Gia Lai provinces in central Vietnam, with average wind speeds reaching 149 km/h and even stronger gusts.

Central Vietnam was ravaged by heavy rains and floods for more than a week earlier, leaving the area yet to recover, only to be battered by a typhoon now. According to official media, as of the evening of the 5th, more than 7,000 people in Gia Lai Province had been evacuated from their homes.

Authorities stated that classes in Gia Lai and Quang Ngai provinces will be suspended on the 6th and 7th, at least five airports have been temporarily closed, and dozens of flights have been forced to reroute.

The lobby of a hotel in Gia Lai Province was shattered by violent winds. AFP quoted 48-year-old Vu Van Hao as saying: "We have never experienced winds this strong here. This is a natural disaster, what else can we do?"

Vietnam is one of the world's most active regions for tropical cyclones, and Nalgae is already the 13th typhoon to hit the country this year. With over 3,200 kilometers of coastline and 2,300 rivers, the Southeast Asian nation faces a high risk of flooding.

Before striking Vietnam, Nalgae had devastated the Philippines, claiming over a hundred lives. President Marcos Jr. has declared a nationwide state of disaster. Meanwhile, a new typhoon, 'Paeng,' has formed, and its expected path will bring it into the Philippine area of responsibility in the next two days, with authorities closely monitoring the situation.