PHILIPPINES: Typhoon Kalmaegi has killed at least 188 people in the Philippines and five in Vietnam, according to the latest figures released by both countries.

The storm is now moving westward toward Cambodia and Laos after barrelling through central Vietnam on Thursday with winds of up to 149 km/h (92 mph).

Towns along Vietnam’s central coast were covered in debris on Friday morning after bearing the full force of the storm overnight.

The strong winds uprooted trees, tore off roofs, and shattered large windows, causing severe property damage.
Thousands of residents took refuge in schools and public buildings, while the army was deployed to assist with emergency response efforts.

Authorities have warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas, as central Vietnam has already experienced record rainfall over the past week, which has killed 50 people.

Earlier this week, Typhoon Kalmaegi brought catastrophic flooding and landslides to the Philippines. Heavy rainfall sent mud torrents crashing down hillsides into residential areas, destroying entire neighborhoods.

The death toll rose sharply to 188 by Friday, up from 114 the previous day, with another 135 people still missing.

The Philippine government has declared a state of calamity nationwide as the country braces for another approaching typhoon forming over the Pacific Ocean.

In preparation for Kalmaegi’s arrival, Vietnam’s military deployed more than 260,000 soldiers and personnel, along with over 6,700 vehicles and six aircraft for rescue and relief operations.

Airports and expressways were closed, and hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from high-risk coastal and mountainous areas.

Shortly after the typhoon made landfall at 19:29 local time (12:29 GMT), hundreds of residents in Dak Lak province, about 350 km (215 miles) north-east of Ho Chi Minh City, called for help as homes collapsed and floods inundated villages.

Strong winds and heavy rainfall continued to batter the region throughout the night, leaving widespread devastation in its wake.