Road closures ordered in Vietnam coastal areas due to typhoon Yagi

Closing roads and advising people to stay indoors is necessary to protect lives as falling trees and damaged infrastructure pose significant hazards, Ha said.

Typhoon Yagi made landfall in Mong Cai City in Quang Ninh Province, home to UNESCO heritage site Ha Long Bay, with strongest winds of 149 km per hour between noon and 2 p.m. Saturday. The storm is forecasted to weaken after 5 p.m., according to the National Center for Hydrometeorology Forecasting.

The storm has caused widespread blackouts in Quang Ninh and the nearby Hai Phong and Thai Binh.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has advised local authorities to consider telling residents to stay indoors for non-essential activities.

Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh People's Committee, reported that the heaviest rainfall is concentrated in Co To, Mong Cai, Cam Pha, and Ha Long, and evacuations have also been carried out.

In Hai Phong, home to Vietnam's largest seaport complex, 23,500 people have been evacuated from high-risk areas, according to the city's military command.

Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, called for swift action against those spreading misinformation about the storm. Hiep urged forces to be on high alert, especially around vulnerable areas like dams and dykes, as well as small reservoirs.

Nguyen Xuan Sang, Vice Minister of Transport, warned that the typhoon's effects would be prolonged, bringing heavy downpours. The ministry has mobilized teams to address erosion and ensure traffic safety.

Traffic police have banned vehicles from crossing Bach Dang Bridge on the Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway due to strong winds.

Nguyen Doan Anh, Vice Chief of the General Staff of the People's Army, reported that the Ministry of National Defense has deployed over 438,000 personnel and thousands of vehicles to assist in reinforcing homes and evacuating residents.