Vietnam evacuates thousands from coast

TYPHOON KALMAEGI FOLLOWS WEEK OF RAINS, FLOODS

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People rest beside cars, swept one on top of another by floodwaters caused by typhoon Kalmaegi, in the province of Cebu, Philippines, yesterday.

(AFP)

Vietnam evacuated thousands of people from coastal areas as Typhoon Kalmaegi, already among the world’s deadliest cyclones this year, closed in on the country’s storm-battered central belt yesterday.

Kalmaegi cut a path of destruction through the Philippines this week, killing at least 140 people and leaving another 127 missing after unleashing devastating floods.

It was forecast to crash into central Vietnam late yesterday, according to the national weather bureau, threatening waves as high as eight metres and powerful storm surges.