Typhoon Wipha, downgraded to a tropical storm, made landfall on the coast of northern Vietnam, bringing strong winds and heavy rains that killed five people and forced thousands to evacuate their homes over the weekend in the neighboring Philippines, writes UNN with reference to Al Jazeera.
Details
According to local meteorological services, the storm, classified as a typhoon on Monday, made landfall on Tuesday at 10:00 local time. The maximum sustained wind speed reached 102 km/h. After making landfall, it began to move southwest.
The storm caused power outages in some areas of Hung Yen province, east of Hanoi. Residents rushed to gas stations to buy fuel for generators, state media reported.
The streets of the capital, Hanoi, were practically deserted as the storm moved inland. Most businesses were closed, and local authorities advised residents to stay home and evacuate from unstable buildings or flood-affected areas.
So far, no casualties or damage have been reported in Vietnam. An estimated 350,000 Vietnamese troops are on standby, as the country's meteorological agency expects up to 500 mm of rainfall, which could lead to dangerous floods and landslides.
According to the Vietnam National Meteorological Agency, Cyclone Wipha will weaken to a low-pressure system on Tuesday evening.
Flights have been canceled across northern Vietnam, and airports in the port city of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh province have been closed.
According to state media, about 150,000 hectares of aquaculture farms and more than 20,000 floating fish cages are at risk of flooding and strong winds.
Philippines
Flooding caused by heavy rains after Hurricane Wipha paralyzed life in the Philippine capital, Manila, on Tuesday. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes, and at least two people are missing.
Schools and government offices in Manila and neighboring provinces remained closed after overnight rain caused the Marikina River to overflow.
More than 23,000 people living along the river were evacuated. They took shelter in schools, village clubs, and covered courtyards. Another 25,000 people were evacuated from Quezon and Caloocan cities in the metropolitan region.
An elderly woman and her driver were swept away by floodwaters while trying to cross a bridge in Caloocan, John Paul Niets, assistant head of the emergency operations center, told AFP.
"Their car was found last night. The rescue operation is ongoing, but no one has been found today," he said.
According to the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, five people died and at least five were injured after Hurricane Wipha as of Monday, local news outlet Enquirer.net reported. According to the council, seven people are missing.
At least 20 storms and typhoons hit the Philippines annually, with the poorest regions of the country usually suffering the most. Their consequences are becoming increasingly deadly and destructive as storms become more powerful due to climate change.
Earlier this year, Super Typhoon Yagi hit Vietnam, killing about 300 people and causing about $3.3 billion in damage.
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