Typhoon Kalmaegi, Asia’s most powerful tropical storm this year, made landfall in Vietnam today with winds of up to 149 km/h. The storm previously struck the Philippines, killing at least 114 people and submerging entire towns.

 

 

In Vietnam, which is already struggling with record rains and flooding, more than 260,000 soldiers have been put on standby for rescue operations. The government has warned that six airports have been forced to close and that hundreds of flights will be disrupted. According to the Vietnamese national weather service, hundreds of localities across seven provinces and cities are at risk of flooding and landslides within the next six hours, as stated in a notice issued earlier today.