Typhoon Kalmaegi Hits Vietnam after killing at least 114 in the Philippines

Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall in Vietnam on Thursday after killing at least 114 people and flooding entire cities in the Philippines.

More than 260,000 soldiers are on standby for rescue efforts as winds of up to 92mph (149km/h) hit percent of the country and the government’s online portal.

Six airports in the country have been forced to close and hundreds of flights are expected to be affected, the government has warned.

The country, already battered by rain and flooding, is now facing one of the strongest storms in Asia this year.

The typhoon could generate waves of up to 8m (26ft) in the South China Sea, according to Vietnam’s Weather Bureau.

The country’s environment ministry said on Thursday that “the typhoon is on land, in the provinces of Dak Lak and Gia Lai” in a statement to AFP News.

The Vietnamese National Seather Forecaster said hundreds of local areas in seven cities and provinces are at risk of flooding and landslides in the next six hours.

There are already reports of damage from several provinces, including roofs torn off houses, broken panels in hotels, and trees uprooted on city streets and roads on residential roads.

In the quy non area, trees fell on main roads and windows of hotels.

The typhoon made landfall in Vietnam at 19:29 local time (12:29 GMT). About 30 minutes ago, hundreds of residents of the two communes of Dakukdanan in Dak Lak called for help, local media reported.

Many people reported that their homes collapsed or were flooded, as strong winds and heavy rains continued to lash the area.

Dak Lak province is approximately 350km (215 miles) north-east of Ho Chi Minh City.

The Vietnamese military has deployed more than 260,000 soldiers and personnel, along with more than 6,700 vehicles and pieces of equipment, including six aircraft, to assist Storm efforts.

On Wednesday morning, a reporter from the AFP News Agency saw officials knocking on the doors of houses in coastal communities and warning people to evacuate.

According to local media reports, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held an online meeting to direct the emergency response.

“We need to reach remote areas and ensure people have food, drinking water, and essential supplies,” he was quoted as saying.

“No one should be left hungry or cold.”

Before making landfall in Vietnam, the typhoon, known locally as Tino, left a trail of destruction in the Philippines.

At least 114 people were killed and thousands were displaced, mainly from central areas including the populous island and tourist hotspot of Cebu, where cars fell onto the streets.

Earlier on Thursday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos JR declared a state of emergency, which is related to livelihoods, and the normal way of life and the normal way of life for the affected areas.

Vietnam has been battling floods and record rainfall for the past week.

The river’s eruption flooded some of the country’s most popular tourist spots, including the UNESCO-LISTED CITY OF HUE AN, where residents were pictured navigating the city after the Hoai River overflowed.

Vietnam’s coastal communities are expected to be hit by Typhoon Kalmaegi.

A sea level rise of 4 to 6m (13 to 20ft) in at least two provinces will change a senior official of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Coundecasting.

Meanwhile, deputy director Nguyen Xuan Hien says Typhoon Damrey – which struck Vietnam in 2017 with less intensity than Kalmaegi, but still caused severe damage to coastal communities – should serve as a warning and urged people to remain highly alert.

Thailand is also prodding for the impact of the typhoon. Local officials warned of flash floods, landslides and rivers.