After causing widespread devastation in the Philippines, powerful Typhoon Kalmaegi is now heading towards the central coastal regions of Vietnam In the Philippines, the storm has left a trail of destruction, with the death toll from catastrophic flooding and landslides rising to 114, while more than 127 people remain missing. Responding to the dire situation, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a "state of national calamity," effectively placing the country under a state of emergency.Typhoon Kalmaegi, known locally as "Tino," struck the central provinces of the Philippines with particular ferocity, with Cebu province being one of the hardest-hit areasFlash floods inundated entire towns, forcing many residents to scramble onto their rooftops to escape the rapidly rising waters. The disaster has affected nearly 2 million people and displaced over 560,000, with approximately 450,000 being moved to emergency shelters. The emergency declaration by the president is intended to speed up the disbursement of relief funds and prevent price gouging in the affected regions.The typhoon has since moved across the South China Sea and is now taking aim at Vietnam, with landfall expected early Friday morning Vietnam's meteorological agency has warned that the typhoon could be extremely powerful, with destructive wind speeds upon landfall.[ In response to the imminent threat, the Vietnamese government has activated its highest-level response plan.Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed authorities to implement urgent measures to safeguard lives and minimize potential damage.Evacuations are underway in coastal provinces, fishing vessels have been ordered back to port, and operations at several airports in the central region have been suspended.
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