SUPER TYPHOON YAGI STRIKES NORTHERN VIETNAM, LEAVING DESTRUCTION IN ITS WAKE - VORAKA

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN VORAKA

Article Published on 08 September 2024 by Elena Lewis| www.vorakamag.com

Super Typhoon Yagi, the most intense storm to hit Asia this year, has made its way to northern Vietnam. The storm struck the provinces of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh on Saturday morning, with wind speeds reaching 203 km/h (126 mph), according to the Indo-Pacific Tropical Cyclone Warning Center.

In Hai Phong, AFP reported that metal roofing and advertising signs were blown across the city. Tragically, a man lost his life when strong winds caused a tree to fall, the agency added. This follows the devastation Yagi caused on Friday when it hit the island of Hainan, a popular tourist destination known as "China's Hawaii."

In China, at least three people have died and nearly 100 others were injured as a result of the storm. Hai Phong, a city of two million people on Vietnam’s northern coast, has borne the brunt of Yagi's force. Parts of the city, home to numerous multinational factories, experienced power outages on Saturday, while four airports in the northern region halted operations for most of the day.

Around 50,000 residents have been evacuated from Vietnam’s coastal towns, and local authorities have advised people to remain indoors. Schools have been shut in 12 northern provinces, including the capital, Hanoi.

On Friday, China evacuated approximately 400,000 people from Hainan island before Yagi’s arrival. Transport services, including trains, boats, and flights, were suspended, and schools were closed. Local reports from China noted widespread power disruptions, affecting roughly 830,000 households, and extensive damage to crops. Videos posted on Chinese social media showed windows being torn from high-rise buildings in Hainan.

A super typhoon is equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. Yagi is the second most powerful typhoon of the year and has doubled in strength since it first hit northern Philippines earlier this week. In the Philippines, floods and landslides caused by Yagi claimed at least 13 lives, and thousands of people were displaced.

Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying typhoons and hurricanes, making them more frequent and severe. As ocean temperatures rise, storms gather more energy, resulting in stronger winds. Warmer air also holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall.