HAI PHONG — Super Typhoon Yagi made landfall in northern Vietnam on September 7, causing significant damage and killing at least one person. The typhoon, with winds exceeding 149 km/h, swept through Hai Phong and Quang Ninh provinces, uprooting thousands of trees and tossing ships and boats into the sea.
In Hai Duong province, a man was killed when a tree fell due to the storm’s intense winds. Hai Phong city saw widespread destruction, with streets littered with fallen trees, metal roofing, and broken signboards. Local resident Tran Thi Hoa described the storm as the largest she had witnessed, highlighting the terrifying sound of the wind and rain.
In response to the typhoon, Vietnam evacuated nearly 50,000 people from coastal areas and deployed 450,000 military personnel for assistance. The government also suspended operations at four airports, including Hanoi’s Noi Bai, and canceled over 300 flights. Additionally, high schools in 12 northern provinces, including Hanoi, were closed for the day.
Before hitting Vietnam, Typhoon Yagi had already caused devastation in southern China’s Hainan island, killing at least two people and injuring 92. The typhoon, which brought winds exceeding 230 km/h, led to the evacuation of around 460,000 people in China.
Earlier this week, Yagi also struck the Philippines, where it caused flooding and landslides on Luzon island. The latest toll from the Philippines reports at least 20 people killed and 26 missing due to the typhoon. Typhoons in this region are increasingly forming closer to the coast, intensifying rapidly, and remaining over land for longer periods, a trend attributed to climate change.