Typhoon Yagi made landfall in northern Vietnam on Saturday afternoon, prompting authorities to close airports and evacuate vulnerable populations. Described by Vietnamese meteorological officials as one of the most powerful typhoons in the region in the past decade, Yagi struck the coastal provinces of Quang Ninh and Haiphong with wind speeds reaching up to 149 kilometers per hour (92 miles per hour). Prior to its arrival, the typhoon had already caused significant damage in China's Hainan province, leaving two people dead and nearly 100 injured.
In Vietnam, the storm claimed a life in Hanoi when strong winds toppled a tree. In Quang Ninh, a province known for the UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay, hundreds of cruises were canceled, and power outages affected parts of Quang Ninh and Thai Binh provinces. In Haiphong, an industrial center with factories like those of EV maker VinFast and Apple supplier Pegatron, operations were disrupted by the storm. Authorities had earlier issued warnings, evacuating people at risk of floods and landslides, and closed four airports, including those in Hanoi and Haiphong. Despite efforts to prune trees in Hanoi to prevent damage, the storm still knocked over several trees and billboards across northern cities. Reports also indicated that many boats were swept out to sea by the strong winds.
Before reaching Vietnam, Typhoon Yagi battered China, hitting Wenchang in Hainan province on Friday with wind speeds of up to 245 kilometers per hour (152 miles per hour) at its center. The storm displaced over 420,000 people in Hainan and forced the evacuation of another 500,000 in Guangdong province before making a second landfall in Xuwen County. In Hong Kong, Yagi caused widespread disruption, forcing more than 270 people into temporary shelters, canceling over 100 flights, and halting trading, banking services, and school operations. Heavy rain and strong winds also knocked down trees across the city.
Yagi had previously swept through the Philippines as a storm, leaving at least 20 people dead and 26 missing due to landslides and flooding. The storm affected more than 2.3 million people in northern and central provinces, displacing over 82,200 residents. In the capital region of Metro Manila, the typhoon caused widespread disruptions to classes, work, ferry services, and domestic flights.
The increasing intensity of typhoons like Yagi has been linked to climate change, with warmer ocean waters fueling stronger storms. A U.N. climate change report warns that intense typhoons are becoming more common, particularly in Southeast Asia.