Local news agencies in Vietnam report that Typhoon Yagi intensified into a super typhoon by Thursday afternoon, with sustained wind speeds of 201 kilometers per hour. It is expected to affect several areas from Ninh Binh to Quang Ninh provinces in northern Vietnam.
Yagi, which entered the South China Sea on Tuesday, has rapidly strengthened, becoming one of the most powerful typhoons in the region in the past decade.
As of 10:00 AM on Thursday (5th), Yagi was located in the northern part of the South China Sea, about 490 kilometers northeast of Hainan Island, China, according to Vietnam’s National Hydrometeorology Forecasting Center.
By 10:00 AM on Friday (6th), the storm is expected to be about 120 kilometers east of Hainan Island and around 550 kilometers from Quang Ninh province, moving northwestward at a speed of 10-15 kilometers per hour.
By Saturday morning (7th), Yagi is forecasted to be in the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin, just 120 kilometers from Quang Ninh province, and is expected to make landfall between Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh provinces before weakening into a depression.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency reports that Yagi’s wind speeds reached 198 kilometers per hour, but are expected to decrease to 126 kilometers per hour when the storm enters the Gulf of Tonkin. However, the Hong Kong Observatory predicts that the storm may further intensify, with wind speeds reaching up to 220 kilometers per hour.
Starting Friday afternoon (6th), strong winds and rough seas are anticipated in the Gulf of Tonkin, including coastal areas from Quang Ninh to Thanh Hoa in northern Vietnam.
Additionally, heavy rainfall is forecast in the northern and north-central regions of the country from Friday through Monday, with some areas potentially receiving up to 500 millimeters of rain. This heavy rainfall may lead to flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in mountainous regions.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued directives for northern and north-central regions to prepare for the storm’s impact.
