Typhoon Noru makes landfall in Vietnam

Typhoon Noru makes landfall in Vietnam

Heavy rain from Typhoon Noru falls on an empty road in Danang, in central Vietnam where the storm made landfall before dawn on September 28, 2022
Heavy rain from Typhoon Noru falls on an empty road in Danang, in central Vietnam where the storm made landfall before dawn on September 28, 2022. Photo: Nhac NGUYEN / AFP
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

Typhoon Noru barrelled into Vietnam's central coast early Wednesday, the national forecaster said, bringing powerful winds and heavy rain as hundreds of thousands of people took refuge in shelters.

In Danang, Vietnam's third largest city, high rise buildings shook in the strong gusts that toppled trees and tore roofs from homes across the central region. Large scale power outages were reported.

"The position of the typhoon's centre at 4:00 am (2100 GMT Tuesday) on September 28 is between Danang and Quang Nam," the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting said, adding wind speeds were between 103 and 117 kilometers (64-72 miles) per hour.

More than 200,000 people in Vietnam had taken refuge in shelters overnight, after forecasters predicted the storm would be one of the biggest to hit the Southeast Asian nation.

Read also

Ian strengthens to Category 1 hurricane as it nears Cuba: NHC

Wind speeds were slower than initially feared, but forecasters said heavy rain would continue into the day and warned of landslides and serious flooding.

The defence ministry has mobilised around 40,000 soldiers and 200,000 militia members, equipped with armoured vehicles and boats in preparation for rescue and relief operations, state media said.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app!

Almost half of Vietnam's airports have been shut, schools and offices across several central provinces -- including in Danang -- were closed and residents rushed to secure their homes Tuesday.

The central section of highway linking Hanoi in the north with commercial hub Ho Chi Minh City in the south has also been closed.

That came after Super Typhoon Noru slammed into the Philippines earlier this week, killing six people.

Authorities said late Tuesday they had evacuated nearly 260,000 people from their homes, including in the popular tourist city of Hoi An, where residents were brought to a primary school.

Read also

Five rescuers killed in Philippine typhoon

A fisherman ties his boat on a street to protect it from Typhoon Noru in Danang hours before the storm made landfall
A fisherman ties his boat on a street to protect it from Typhoon Noru in Danang hours before the storm made landfall. Photo: Nhac NGUYEN / AFP
Source: AFP

"I wanted to leave. My house is not very strong. I am afraid its roof might be blown away when the typhoon hits," Huynh Mua told AFP, clutching a plastic bag full of clothes, a blanket and several packets of instant noodles.

Three hundred houses in the coastal province of Quang Tri had their roofs blown off late Tuesday as winds began picking up speed. In nearby Hue, trees were blown to the ground. In Danang all shops and hotels were closed, while residents were banned from going out on the streets.

Noru hit the Philippines' Luzon island on Sunday and Monday, toppling trees, knocking out power and flooding low-lying communities.

Five rescuers were killed after being sent to help flooded residents, while another man died after he was hit by a landslide. Officials estimate about $2.4 million worth of crops were damaged.

New feature: Сheck out news that is picked for YOU ➡️ find “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.