HANOI, VIETNAM – Millions of people in Northern Vietnam are on high alert as powerful Typhoon Matmo is set to slam into the region tonight, threatening to unleash destructive winds and torrential rain on a landscape already battered by days of severe flooding.
The nation's attention is fixed on the approaching storm, known locally as Typhoon No. 11. According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Matmo is expected to enter the Gulf of Tonkin on the evening of Sunday, October 5th. It is described as a very strong and dangerously unpredictable storm, packing sustained winds of Level 12-13, equivalent to 118-149 km/h (73-92 mph), with gusts reaching a devastating Level 15, up to 183 km/h (114 mph).
Authorities in the coastal provinces of Quang Ninh, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay, and the major port city of Hai Phong are preparing for a direct impact. Emergency measures have been activated, including a comprehensive ban on all vessels heading to sea and the urgent evacuation of residents from low-lying and vulnerable coastal areas.
The typhoon's impending arrival comes as a double blow to the region, which is already grappling with the consequences of prolonged heavy rainfall. The ground is heavily saturated, making the threat of flash floods and landslides critically high.
In the capital, Hanoi, some residential areas are already deeply submerged, forcing residents to wade through knee-deep water to navigate their neighborhoods. Meanwhile, in neighboring Bac Ninh province, a disastrous situation has unfolded where floodwaters from a nearby golf course reportedly overwhelmed defenses, inundating homes and causing significant damage to property and livelihoods.
With the ground unable to absorb any more water, the incoming storm surge and additional rainfall from Matmo are expected to exacerbate the current crisis. Emergency services are on standby as the entire region holds its breath, preparing for the full force of the storm.
