(MENAFN) The Lao weather bureau has issued a nationwide alert as Typhoon Kalmaegi approaches, forecasting moderate to heavy rainfall in central and southern regions from Friday through Sunday.

Traveling west-northwest at 39 km per hour, the storm is expected to cross Vietnam before reaching Laos, bringing widespread thunderstorms alongside localized areas of intense rainfall and strong winds. The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology under the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported Thursday that the typhoon will likely generate “light to moderate thunderstorms generally and heavy to very heavy rainfall with strong winds in parts of the central and southern provinces.”

Officials are warning residents to remain alert to potential hazards including flash floods, landslides, and rising river levels. Areas identified as most vulnerable include Attapeu, Sekong, Champasak, Salavan, Khammuan, Savannakhet, Bolikhamxay, Xayabouly, and the capital, Vientiane.

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