Vietnam is bracing for Typhoon Wipha, which is predicted to make landfall early Tuesday. Coastal provinces are currently on emergency alert, leading to the cancellation of numerous flights as the country prepares for the storm's impact. The typhoon is expected to bring powerful winds and heavy rainfall, heightening the risk of flash floods and landslides in northern Vietnam's mountainous regions, as well as urban flooding in cities like Hanoi.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the storm's severity in a directive to government agencies, stating, "This is a very strong storm, moving fast, with a wide and dangerous impact on both land and sea." He instructed all fishing boats, cargo ships, and tourist vessels to return to shore, urging the evacuation of people residing in high-risk areas.
In the Philippines, Typhoon Wipha has already resulted in casualties, having intensified monsoon rains over the weekend that led to at least three confirmed deaths, including one drowning and two individuals who were struck by falling trees. Authorities are investigating reports of three additional fatalities while seven people remain missing. The storm has affected over 800,000 individuals, with about 90,000 people being forced to evacuate due to floods, landslides, and debris.
In preparation for Typhoon Wipha, hundreds of cruise ships have anchored in Vietnam's renowned Ha Long Bay after the government suspended all tourist boat services due to the adverse weather conditions. An earlier incident in Ha Long Bay resulted in a tourist boat capsizing, killing at least 37 individuals, complicating search efforts for the missing due to ongoing bad weather.
Additionally, Vietnam's national carrier, Vietnam Airlines, and its affiliate, Pacific Airlines, have canceled at least nine domestic flights on Monday, with further delays anticipated. Budget airline Vietjet has canceled 12 flights, including some international routes to South Korea.
Local authorities are actively deploying rescue crews and stockpiling food and medical supplies while working to secure telecommunications infrastructure. Reports suggest that nearly 150,000 hectares (approximately 370,658 acres) of aquaculture farms and over 20,000 floating fish cages are at risk from potential flooding and strong winds associated with the approaching storm.
Emergency warnings have been disseminated to millions of residents via text message, with forecasters expecting Typhoon Wipha to make landfall between Hai Phong and Thanh Hoa provinces with wind gusts reaching speeds of up to 166 kilometers (103 miles) per hour.
Vietnam is accustomed to tropical storms, but climate experts highlight that such storms are becoming increasingly powerful due to climate change, as warmer ocean waters provide more energy for storm development, resulting in heightened wind speeds and heavier rainfall. For context, Typhoon Yagi in the previous year led to around 300 fatalities and inflicted damages estimated at $3.3 billion, negatively impacting the country's GDP growth by 0.15%.
The Associated Press continues to monitor the situation closely as it develops, providing updates on the actions taken by authorities and the ongoing impact of Typhoon Wipha across the region.
