Typhoon Kalmaegi struck central Vietnam on November 7, bringing powerful winds, heavy flooding, and widespread destruction.

The storm also unearthed the centuries-old wooden frame of a merchant ship buried beneath Tan Thanh beach in Hoi An, estimated to be 55 feet long and 16 feet wide.

Carbon dating confirmed the ship was built between the 14th and 16th centuries, during Hoi An’s height as a maritime trading hub in the South China Sea.

Previously discovered in 2023 but quickly reburied by shifting sands, the typhoon’s coastal erosion exposed the hull more clearly, giving researchers a rare opportunity to study it, The Weather Channel has reported.

For local residents, the shipwreck became both a symbol of resilience after the storm and a reminder of their rich maritime heritage.