Typhoon Wipha has left a trail of disruption across Southern China after making a direct and powerful hit on Hong Kong, bringing the major financial hub to a standstill. The storm is now churning across the Gulf of Tonkin, where it is expected to restrengthen before making landfall in Vietnam, placing coastal provinces on high alert.
Hong Kong Paralyzed by Direct Hit
The city of Hong Kong experienced the full force of the typhoon, prompting the Hong Kong Observatory to issue its highest possible warning, the Hurricane Signal No. 10. This is the first time the signal has been raised in several years. The city was transformed into a ghost town as residents sheltered indoors from the storm's fury.
- Destructive Force: The typhoon brought torrential rain and ferocious wind gusts that reached up to 167 km/h (104 mph), causing widespread damage. At least 33 people have been reported injured from falling debris and other storm-related incidents.
- Complete Shutdown: Public life was completely paralyzed. The MTR Corporation suspended all services on open-air sections of its rail network, all ferry services were halted, and schools and businesses were closed. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange also canceled its trading day.
- Travel Chaos: Hong Kong International Airport, one of the world's busiest, saw massive disruption. More than 400 flights were canceled or severely delayed, leaving an estimated 80,000 passengers stranded.
- Visible Damage: Across the city, the powerful winds uprooted numerous trees, shattered windows, and caused scaffolding at several high-rise construction sites to collapse, sending bamboo poles crashing to the streets below.
Mass Evacuations in Mainland China
Before hitting Hong Kong, Typhoon Wipha made landfall in the southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Hainan. In preparation for the storm's arrival, Chinese authorities launched a massive emergency response, evacuating more than 440,000 people from low-lying coastal areas to safer shelters.
Vietnam on High Alert as Storm Regathers Strength
The most urgent concern now lies with Vietnam. After weakening slightly over land, Typhoon Wipha is now over the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, and Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has issued an urgent warning.
- Forecasted Intensification: The storm is expected to regain strength, potentially reaching wind speeds equivalent to a Category 10-11 storm on the local scale (approx. 100-115 km/h) with even more powerful gusts before it makes a second landfall.
- Emergency Preparations: Coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Thanh Hoa are on high alert. Authorities have issued a ban on all vessels, ordering thousands of fishing boats and tour ships to return to port immediately.
- Severe Rainfall Warning: The storm's primary threat to Vietnam is expected to be extreme rainfall. Widespread totals of 300-400mm are predicted, with some mountainous areas potentially seeing over 600mm of rain. This poses a very high risk of life-threatening flash floods and landslides in the coming days.
