Hai Phong, Quang Ninh close seaports to brace for super typhoon Yagi

Port operators in Hai Phong reported that the Tan Cang Hai Phong International Container Terminal, the largest container terminal in the north, suspended container handling activities from noon on Friday until further notice.

Tan Vu Port has also ceased operations from noon to allow vessels to dock and take shelter from super typhoon Yagi while the Chua Ve Port has suspended services from 6 p.m. until further notice.

Dinh Vu Port stopped accepting cargo containers from 4 p.m. on Friday and will halt handling empty containers from 12 a.m. on Saturday.

Cargo handling activities at Quang Ninh seaports were suspended by 11 a.m. on Friday following instructions from the Quang Ninh Maritime Administration.

Port operators have been instructed to coordinate with authorities to guide all vessels operating in their ports to safe shelters by 4 p.m.

Ship captains were advised to consider terrain, current, and nearby vessels when calculating anchor chain length and to regularly check their anchors to ensure safety.

Typhoon Yagi, packing winds of 166 km per hour, is moving at a speed of about 15-20 kph and forecast to reach mainland Quang Ninh and Hai Phong in northern Vietnam Saturday afternoon.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that at 6 a.m., the storm lay centered in the Gulf of Tonkin, about 160 km from the center of Quang Ninh and its neighbor Hai Phong.

The storm, which brought violent gales and heavy rain that triggered widespread power outages through China's Hainan Friday afternoon, is moving west-northwest at a speed of 15-20 kph. It is expected to move deep into northeast Vietnam with winds of up to 133 kph after making landfall in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong.