Yagi blasts mainland with winds gusting 150kph

The worst-case scenario has happened as Yagi is sustaining its powerful force and the affected area is expanding across the Northern Delta.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has issued a level 4 natural disaster risk warning out of the five levels for Hai Phong and Quang Ninh, which are anticipated to bear the brunt of the typhoon.

The natural disaster risk level 4 (high chance of disasters) is likely to cause major damage to people, livestock, and property and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces face the natural disaster risk level 3 (medium chance of disasters) that is likely to cause damage to people, livestock, and property and infrastructure.

In Quang Ninh and Hai Phong, widespread power outage were recorded in many localities, while trees and electric poles were brought down by strong winds, VOV.VN has learned.  

The strong winds howled, tearing apart billboards and corrugated iron roofs.

In Ha Long city of Quang Ninh province, all the trees on the street were knocked down and some cars were overturned. Gale-force winds broke the glass windows of many houses.

After checking the forecasting work at the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha convened a meeting at the forward command center based in Hai Phong, examining storm prevention and control in coastal localities of Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Thai Binh.

He requested localities to strengthen their response measures as Yagi was at its strongest at between 1 – 2 p.m. and stay prepared for its circulation, as heavy rain will continue until evening and the following days.

According to meteorologists, Yagi was moving into the area between Quang Ninh and Hai Phong at 1p.m. on September 7, and it is expected to lose its strength after 5p.m.

At 3p.m. the wind was still howling, blowing off many roof sheets and causing numerous trees on the road to break and fall, according to a VOV correspondent in Hai Phong.

The Hai Phong municipal administration has requested that residents stay indoors until 8p.m on September 7, except for disaster prevention forces.

Preliminary reports show nearly 20 people were injured during the height of the typhoon and they were all taken to hospitals for emergency treatment.

Strong winds and heavy downpours affected the medium and low-voltage power lines, causing power outages in some areas of Hai Phong. The local electricity sector planned to promptly address the blackout as soon as Yagi is downgraded.

The Ministry of National Defense reported that it has mobilized more than 438,000 officers and soldiers, thousands of vehicles and supplies to support people in reinforcing their houses and evacuating them to safe shelters. The ministry has coordinated with local authorities to carefully review dikes, embankments, lakes, dams, and vulnerable areas to proactively respond to possible incidents, and stay prepared for post-storm recovery and disease prevention.

(To be continued…..)