Storm Wipha batters northern Vietnam with fierce winds and torrential rain

Tropical Storm Wipha made landfall in northern Vietnam on July 22, unleashing heavy rainfall and powerful winds across the country’s northern and central regions.

The storm came ashore at approximately 10:00 a.m. local time with maximum sustained winds of 102 kilometres per hour (63 mph), according to Vietnamese meteorological authorities, cited by US press.

After landfall, the system began tracking southwest.

Wipha had been classified as a typhoon on July 21 while still over open water but weakened overnight, prompting a downgrade to tropical storm status before reaching the Vietnamese coast.

The storm caused widespread disruption in several provinces. In Hung Yen Province, located east of Hanoi, power outages were reported, prompting residents to queue at fuel stations to purchase petrol for backup generators, according to state media.

In Hanoi, the streets were largely deserted as the storm advanced inland. Most businesses shuttered for the day, and city authorities urged the public to remain indoors, particularly those in flood-prone or structurally vulnerable buildings.

The adverse weather led to the cancellation of flights across northern Vietnam, while airports in the port city of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh province were temporarily closed for safety reasons.

State media reported that nearly 150,000 hectares (approximately 370,000 acres) of aquaculture farms, along with more than 20,000 floating fish cages, are under threat from possible flooding and wind damage.

Vietnamese officials continue to issue flood warnings as the storm pushes inland, bringing intense rainfall to already waterlogged regions.

Elsewhere in the region, the Philippines is grappling with the aftermath of recent severe weather, which has left more than 80,000 people in emergency shelters following a weekend of floods, landslides, and tidal surges. On July 22, government offices and schools in the capital and ten surrounding provinces remained closed due to persistent flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains. Soldiers were deployed to evacuate residents from inundated villages, where floodwaters ranged from knee- to waist-deep, while the coast guard dispatched buses and boats to assist stranded commuters. At least three fatalities have been reported.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s meteorological department has issued alerts for thunderstorms and the risk of flash floods from July 22 to July 24, particularly in the northern and northeastern regions. Coastal areas in the south may face tides reaching up to four meters. The agency advised small vessels to remain in port until the severe conditions subside.

Experts warn that climate change is contributing to the growing intensity of tropical storms in the region. Benjamin P. Horton, dean of the School of Energy and Environment at the City University of Hong Kong, explained that warming oceans are a key driver of these changes.

“Rising sea surface temperatures, fueled by climate change, can intensify these storms,” Horton said. “Warmer oceans give tropical storms more energy, resulting in stronger winds, heavier rainfall, and shifting precipitation patterns across East Asia.”

By Tamilla Hasanova