Vietnam’s Gia Lai buys drones to support emergency response to storm Kalmaegi

The provincial administration on Sunday held an emergency meeting with departments and local authorities from eastern communes to plan disaster response measures for Kalmaegi, which may become the 13th storm to hit the East Vietnam Sea this year.

Kalmaegi is forecast to be a powerful storm that could make landfall in Vietnam between Wednesday and Friday, with the south-central coastal provinces including Quang Ngai and Gia Lai likely to be affected, according to the national weather center.

At the meeting, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Anh Tuan instructed the provincial Department of Finance to urgently allocate funds for the provincial Military Command to purchase two drones.

These drones will be used for emergency delivery of supplies to communities that may become isolated after the storm.

He also directed the military command to deploy available drones to conduct aerial surveys of vulnerable areas at risk of landslides or flooding.

In addition, the provincial leader ordered police to assist residents in relocating from dangerous areas, securing their belongings, and protecting property during any mandatory evacuations.

Four high-risk areas in eastern Gia Lai have been identified as prone to landslides due to prolonged rainfall, including Ganh Mountain in De Gi Commune, with 66 households, Cam Mountain in Cat Tien Commune with 64 households, Tra Cong Village in An Hoa Commune with 77 households, and Village 3 in Vinh Son Commune housing 40 households.

In recent days, heavy rain has persisted across the province.

Gia Lai currently has nearly 4,480 boats operating near shore and at anchor, while 1,300 vessels with more than 40,000 crew members are still at sea.

Authorities have instructed local officials to contact vessel owners and inform them of the storm’s developments to ensure timely preparations.

The provincial chairman emphasized that the highest priority is the safety of residents.

All communes and wards must be ready to evacuate people and safeguard property in areas prone to landslides or flooding.

He also urged readiness of fuel, boats, speedboats, and life jackets in vulnerable areas and advised residents to stock up on essential goods such as dry food, instant meals, bread, and bottled water in anticipation of possible disruptions caused by the storm.