HANOI, July 22: Storm Wipha made landfall in northern Vietnam on Tuesday, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to northern and central regions. Originally classified as a typhoon, the storm weakened overnight and reached land at 10 a.m. with winds of 64–102 km/h (40–63 mph) and gusts up to 138 km/h (86 mph) before moving southwest.
Wipha caused power outages in Hung Yen Province, east of Hanoi, where residents rushed to fuel up generators. Hanoi’s streets were nearly empty as businesses shut down and authorities urged people to stay home and evacuate flood-prone or unstable buildings.
Flights were canceled across northern Vietnam, and airports in Hai Phong and Quang Ninh were closed. Authorities warned of further flooding and landslides as the storm moved inland. Nearly 150,000 hectares of aquaculture farms and 20,000+ floating fish cages are at risk due to rising water and strong winds.
In the Philippines, more than 80,000 people remain in emergency shelters following flooding, landslides, and tidal surges over the weekend. Most schools and government offices in Manila and ten provinces were closed. Military and coast guard teams evacuated residents trapped by waist-deep water, with at least three deaths reported.
Climate experts warn that global warming is intensifying storms like Wipha. Rising sea surface temperatures give tropical storms more fuel, leading to stronger winds, heavier rains, and disrupted rainfall patterns across East Asia. “These intensified storms are a direct effect of climate change,” said Benjamin P. Horton, dean at City University of Hong Kong. (AP)
