China: Eerie images from the passage of Typhoon Wipha – Heading towards Vietnam
Close to 350,000 troops are on standby as Typhoon Wipha heads towards the northern coastline of Vietnam.
The State Meteorological Service has warned of potential flooding and landslides, predicting rainfall of up to 50 centimetres.
As of 06:00 this morning, the national weather service reported that Storm Wipha was located 60 kilometres from the coast of Haiphong city, moving southwest at 15km/h with wind speeds reaching 102km/h.
The typhoon is expected to weaken into a low-pressure system after making landfall in Hung Yen and Ninh Binh provinces on Tuesday night.
So far, no casualties or damages have been reported. In Haiphong, a major industrial and port city, eyewitnesses reported moderate winds and rain on Tuesday morning.
A resident of Cat Ba Island in Haiphong district commented, “We can move around outside this morning because the wind is not too strong.”
However, Typhoon Wipha has already caused significant devastation in southern China over the past 48 hours. Local authorities report at least two deaths and 10 missing individuals due to the storm’s powerful winds and heavy rainfall.
China’s state-run CCTV network reported that in Shandong province alone, situated in the east, two people have died and another 10 are missing. The rainfall in Jinan’s Laigu district has reached an alarming 364 millimetres.
People struggled to walk and scrambled for cover as Typhoon Wipha barreled through southern China with powerful winds over the weekend. pic.twitter.com/ZolyMuaD8g
– AccuWeather (@accuweather) July 21, 2025
🌪Typhoon Wipha hit Hong Kong with a T10 warning, causing over 400 flight cancellations, fallen trees, and flooding.
After making landfall in Guangdong, China, it weakened to a tropical storm. Heavy rain continues, affecting the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. pic.twitter.com/Bemb7Yk9C0
– News.Az (@news_az) July 21, 2025
In the southern province of Guangdong and Hong Kong, the rainfall was even more extreme, reportedly hitting 600 millimetres. The fierce winds wreaked havoc, destroying homes, damaging road infrastructure, decimating crops, and sweeping away vehicles, roofs, and even people.
Hong Kong’s airport was forced to shut down for several hours, and its flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, had to cancel almost all of its Monday flights.
Reported by Reuters
