Typhoon Yagi aims at northern Vietnam with 166 kph winds

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.

The meteorological agency has measured 117 kph winds on Bach Long Vi island of Hai Phong and 49 kph winds in Co To island of Quang Ninh.

The Japan Meteorological Station said the storm is in the center of the Gulf of Tonkin and maintains the strongest wind speed of 144 kph from Friday night, adding that winds will weaken to 126 kph when it approaches the coast of Quang Ninh. Hong Kong Observatory assessed that Yagi's wind speed has decreased to 185 kph from the super typhoon level.

A satellite image of typhoon Yagi in the Gulf of Tonkin, captured at 5 a.m. on Sept. 7, 2024. Photo by the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting

From Saturday until Monday, northern Vietnam and Thanh Hoa Province will receive 100-350 mm rainfall, with some places to be dumped more than 500 mm. The heaviest rain in the northeast will concentrate on Saturday, and in the northwest from Saturday night to Sunday night, according to Vietnam's national forecast center.

Heavy rain is likely to cause flooding in low-lying areas, flash floods on small rivers and streams, and landslides on steep slopes.