Vietnam Evacuates Thousands Ahead of Typhoon
Vietnam Braces for Typhoon as Mass Evacuations Begin
HANOI — Vietnam is preparing for its fifth typhoon of the year as the powerful storm churns through the Gulf of Tonkin, whipping up waves nearly 10 meters high and forcing mass evacuations along the country’s coast.
Authorities said more than 325,000 residents from five coastal provinces are being moved to schools and public buildings converted into shelters. By early Monday, nearly 30,000 people had already been evacuated, two domestic airports were closed, and all fishing vessels had been recalled to safety.
In the city of Vinh, heavy rains flooded streets overnight. By morning, shops and restaurants were shuttered, with residents stacking sandbags to protect their homes and businesses.
The typhoon is forecast to make landfall around 1 p.m. local time (0600 GMT) with winds of up to 157 kilometers per hour (98 mph), according to Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. Meteorologists expect the storm to weaken significantly after landfall, with the Joint Typhoon Warning Center noting cooler waters along the continental shelf could reduce its strength.
The impact has already rippled beyond Vietnam. In China’s southern island of Hainan, authorities evacuated around 20,000 residents and closed popular tourist areas in Sanya. Dozens of domestic flights were also canceled in both countries.
Vietnam has been battered by severe weather this year, with more than 100 people dead or missing due to natural disasters in the first seven months alone, according to the agriculture ministry. Losses have topped $21 million so far, with memories still fresh of Typhoon Yagi last September, which killed hundreds and left behind $3.3 billion in damages.
Experts warn that human-driven climate change is fueling stronger and less predictable storms, raising the threat of destructive floods and typhoons across the tropics.
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