Schools in Gia Lai devastated after storm Kalmaegi

The fence of Nhon Chau Primary and Secondary School collapsed due to storm Kalmaegi.

Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in Gia Lai province on the night of November 6, causing heavy damage to many educational facilities in the area. Dozens of classrooms had their roofs blown off, fences collapsed, trees broken, etc., forcing many schools to temporarily suspend teaching and learning.

Having been attached to Nhon Chau island commune for many years, this is the first time Mr. Huynh Cong Thanh, Principal of Nhon Chau Primary and Secondary School, has witnessed such a devastating storm.

The school is located in the middle of an island, surrounded by sea, so when hearing that storm Kalmaegi was very strong, the school and the authorities moved equipment, braced the roof, and prepared shelters for the people.

“Despite careful preparation, the storm was beyond our imagination. The wind howled continuously, hitting the roof and doors. Everyone was worried, just hoping the storm would pass quickly. Luckily, no one was injured, but three classrooms had their corrugated iron roofs and ceilings blown off, and a 35m fence collapsed,” said Mr. Thanh.

Immediately after the storm, the army, local authorities and volunteers helped the school clean up and prepare for the students to return to class. However, because the roof has not been replaced, the school has temporarily rearranged the class schedule and will continue to fix it in the coming days.

Roof and ceiling of Ngo May Primary School are badly damaged.

Similarly, at Ngo May Primary School (Quy Nhon Nam ward), despite having tied classrooms together and pruned trees to prevent storms, strong winds caused the roofs of 5 classrooms and 1 office to be blown off and severely damaged.

“The school gate was also blown away by the wind, flying nearly 20 meters, many trees in the yard were uprooted,” said Ms. Phan Minh Ha, the school’s principal.

Immediately after the storm, 22 soldiers of Division 2 - Provincial Military Command assisted in cleaning up and trimming fallen trees. Some severely damaged classrooms were fenced off to ensure the safety of students. Due to lack of classrooms, the school had to divide into two shifts, morning and afternoon, and temporarily only organized 5 classes/week. The mid-term examination for 4th and 5th graders was also postponed to match the storm recovery plan.

Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted was devastated after the storm.

Located near the eye of the storm, Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted (Quy Nhon Ward) had its multi-purpose gym roof destroyed by the storm, the security room roof blown off, and many classroom windows broken.

“Staff and teachers are working hard to clean up the campus and are receiving support from authorities to soon stabilize teaching and learning,” said Mr. Huynh Le Minh, the school’s principal.

According to Mr. Pham Van Nam, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Gia Lai province, storm Kalmaegi damaged many items at educational facilities, including classrooms, roofs, functional rooms, and teaching equipment.

“We are reviewing the damage and implementing remedial measures with the spirit of determination, initiative and the highest responsibility,” Mr. Nam affirmed.

To quickly restore the infrastructure, the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee issued an official dispatch requesting the Department of Education and Training, along with local authorities, to urgently repair schools and medical stations damaged by the storm. Units were directed to proactively use budget reserves and mobilize other legal resources to ensure that educational establishments return to normal operations from November 10.

Some pictures of schools in Gia Lai province damaged after storm Kalmaegi: