Typhoon Kalmaegi slams into Vietnam after killing over 140 people in the Philippines

Typhoon Kalmaegi, one of the strongest cyclones to hit Asia this year, made landfall in central Vietnam on Thursday, bringing fierce winds and torrential rain after causing widespread devastation and killing at least 142 people in the Philippines.

The storm crashed into the central Vietnamese coast, hitting provinces including Gia Lai and Dak Lak, packing sustained winds of up to 149 km/h (92.5 mph), according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Forecasters warned that the typhoon could generate waves reaching up to 10 meters (33 feet) on the coast and dump more than 24 inches of additional rain in some areas.

Vietnamese authorities mobilized more than 260,000 soldiers to stand by for rescue and relief operations as the country braced for the storm's impact. The heavy rainfall raises fears of deadly landslides and flash floods, particularly since the central provinces were already reeling from days of record-breaking rainfall and prior flooding.

The storm's arrival forced the closure of six airports, affecting hundreds of scheduled flights. Initial reports indicated power outages across several provinces, along with uprooted trees and damage to residential roofs. Authorities also issued warnings regarding severe flooding risks in major urban centers, including Danang and the financial hub, Ho Chi Minh City, where high tides were expected to coincide with the heavy rainfall. Hundreds of localities across seven cities and provinces were identified as being at risk by the national weather forecaster.

Before striking Vietnam, Typhoon Kalmaegi swept through the Philippines, where it was responsible for the deadliest natural disaster to hit the archipelago this year. The confirmed death toll stands at least 142 people, though some reports placed the figure at 114. At least 127 individuals were still reported missing after the storm blew out of the archipelago and into the South China Sea on Wednesday.

Most fatalities in the Philippines resulted from drowning in flash floods, particularly in the hard-hit central province of Cebu. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency on Thursday following the storm's passage.