Super Typhoon Yagi, the most formidable storm in Asia this year, has claimed the lives of at least four people following its landfall in northern Vietnam. The storm struck Hai Phong and Quang Ninh provinces early on Saturday morning, unleashing winds of up to 203 km/h (126 mph), according to the Indo-Pacific Tropical Cyclone Warning Center.
The powerful winds and debris have caused significant damage to buildings and vehicles, and falling trees have led to power outages in Hanoi, the nation's capital. State media reported that three fatalities occurred in Quang Ninh province, while another person was killed in Hai Duong, near Hanoi. Approximately 78 individuals are believed to have been injured in the affected region.
In Hai Phong, metal roof sheets and commercial signboards were seen flying across the city, as reported by AFP. The storm had previously caused destruction on Hainan Island, a popular tourist destination in China, on Friday. The storm's impact in China resulted in at least three deaths and nearly 100 injuries.
Hai Phong, a coastal city with a population of two million, has experienced severe disruptions, including power outages affecting multinational factories and the suspension of operations at four northern airports. Nearly 50,000 people have been evacuated from coastal towns in Vietnam, and authorities have advised residents to stay indoors. Schools across 12 northern provinces, including Hanoi, have been closed.
As of 20:00 local time (14:00 BST) on Saturday, Vietnam's meteorological agency reported that the storm was still generating winds of up to 102 km/h (63 mph) as it moved inland. Satellite imagery indicated that the eye of the storm had moved southwest of Hanoi and was expected to reach northern Laos by Sunday evening. Hai Phong and Quang Ninh have recorded over 20 cm of rainfall since the beginning of Saturday.
In Hanoi, state media captured images of motorcyclists seeking shelter under bridges to escape the heavy rain. The storm also caused the collapse of a two-storey house in the capital, though officials noted it was in the process of demolition and was not inhabited.
Hanoi resident Dang Van Phuong told Reuters, "I've never seen a storm like this. You can't drive in these winds." On Friday, ahead of Yagi's arrival, China had evacuated around 400,000 people from Hainan Island, suspended trains, boats, and flights, and closed schools. Local media reported extensive power outages affecting approximately 830,000 households, with valuable crops also devastated. Social media from China showed dramatic footage of windows being torn from tower blocks on Hainan.
A super typhoon is equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. Yagi, the second strongest typhoon of the year, has doubled in strength since it first struck the northern Philippines earlier in the week. The typhoon's floods and landslides in the Philippines resulted in at least 13 deaths and forced thousands to evacuate.
Experts assert that climate change is contributing to stronger and more frequent typhoons and hurricanes. Warmer ocean waters enable storms to gather more energy, leading to higher wind speeds, while a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, resulting in more intense rainfall.
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