HANOI: Super Typhoon Yagi, Asia’s most powerful storm of the year, made landfall in northern Vietnam on Saturday, causing at least four deaths and significant damage. The storm, which previously ravaged China’s Hainan Island and the Philippines, struck Vietnam’s northern districts around 1 p.m., bringing winds of up to 160 kph, down from its peak of 234 kph in Hainan a day earlier.
The typhoon resulted in widespread destruction, with 78 reported injuries and several people missing at sea, according to state media. The storm had already claimed the lives of at least two people in Hainan and 16 in the Philippines, where it first made landfall earlier in the week.
In Vietnam, the coastal city of Haiphong, a major industrial hub, was severely impacted by winds reaching speeds of up to 90 kph. The city experienced widespread power outages, alongside three other northern provinces. Haiphong’s infrastructure was battered, with windows smashed, waves reaching up to three meters, and metal roofing sheets blown away. Thousands of trees were reported down, and many homes were damaged.
Before reaching the mainland, Yagi caused extensive damage on Co To Island, about 80 kilometers from Quang Ninh, uprooting trees and damaging buildings. Electrical lines were downed, and debris was scattered across the island.
In Hainan, the typhoon resulted in felled trees, flooded roads, and power outages affecting more than 800,000 homes.
In response, Vietnam evacuated over 50,000 residents from coastal areas, deployed 450,000 military personnel, and temporarily closed four airports, including Hanoi’s Noi Bai, leading to the cancellation of more than 300 flights.
