Powerful storm brings destruction, while temperatures soar in Vietnam and torrential rain lashes South Korea
Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila, currently in the Solomon Sea, is expected to continue moving south-westwards over the coming days. According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Maila had peak sustained winds of 115mph (185km/h), with gusts up to 160mph on Thursday, making it the strongest cyclone recorded this far north in the Solomon Sea.
The storm has caused widespread damage across the Solomon Islands, particularly in Western, Choiseul and Isabel provinces, where schools, clinics and homes have been damaged. The government is prioritising humanitarian assistance after about 120 people were displaced and almost 73,000 people affected overall.
Maila is forecast to move south of Papua New Guinea over the weekend, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to south-eastern areas before moving into the Coral Sea. From Sunday, the storm is likely to continue south-westwards towards the far north Queensland coast early next week.
Meanwhile, a prolonged spell of extreme heat is engulfing much of Vietnam, with temperatures exceeding 40C (104F) in central regions. Between Monday and Wednesday, Tay Hieu and Con Cuong in Nghe An province recorded highs of 41.9C and 41.3C respectively.
