Typhoon hits southern China, heads to Vietnam

China's National Meteorological Center said the storm was expected to send winds of 137 to 144 kilometers per hour (85 to 90 mph) over southern mainland China.

A typhoon has struck China's southernmost island of Hainan, forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights as it headed west toward Vietnam.

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China's official Xinhua News Agency said 90,000 people in southern China were evacuated from high-risk areas ahead of Typhoon Kalmaegi.

But the storm's course was giving only a glancing blow to southern China as it headed toward its expected landfall in northern Vietnam late Tuesday.

China's National Meteorological Center said the storm was expected to send winds of 137 to 144 kilometers per hour (85 to 90 mph) over southern mainland China.

Xinhua said Hainan's international airport canceled 69 flights.

Vietnam ordered residents in high-risk areas to evacuate and fishing boats to take shelter.

Typhoon Kalmaegi slammed northern Philippines on Monday, killing at least two people.