Tropical Storm Wipha makes landfall in Vietnam; heavy rains persist in Philippines
HANOI/MANILA (Reuters) Tropical storm Wipha weakened after making landfall in northern Vietnam on Tuesday, with authorities on alert due to heavy rains that could cause flooding and mudslides, as the Philippines struggled with monsoon downpours that began last week.Wipha hit the northern provinces of Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa early on Tuesday afternoon with wind speeds of up to 74 kmph, slowing from around 100 kmph on its approach, the national weather forecasting agency said.With a long coastline facing the South China Sea, Vietnam is prone to typhoons that are often deadly and Wipha is the first major storm to hit this year.Heavy rains of up to 20 inches were forecast to continue until Wednesday morning, and authorities warned people to watch out for landslides in mountainous areas and flooding in urban areas. Around 350,000 soldiers were put on standby. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had put coastal provinces on emergency footing as Wipha neared, with residents nervous after the devastation of Typhoon Yagi, which last year killed around 300 people and caused $3.3 billion of damage.Airlines cancelled and rescheduled dozens of flights, and some airport, port and train services were suspended, though state media reported that airports in Quang Ninh and Haiphong had resumed operations on Tuesday afternoon.Photos on state media showed empty streets in the capital in Hanoi, where many workplaces were closed on Tuesday, including the US embassy."We haven't forgotten about Yagi, and have taken extra measures to cope with Wipha," said a resident of Cat Ba Island in Haiphong.
FLOODING, CLOSURES IN PHILIPPINES In the Philippines, Wipha has intensified already torrential monsoon rains, triggering knee- to waist-deep flooding across parts of the country and forcing a second day of school closures, flight cancellations and the suspension of government work.Thousands of families remain in evacuation centres as relentless rains, which swept through the country's north last week, continue to batter the country.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., currently on an official visit to the United States, said government agencies had been mobilised to provide assistance."Relief goods are ready and are being delivered to affected areas, along with medical teams," Marcos said in a recorded message. "We're ensuring transport, electricity, and water supplies are stable for those affected."
On Sunday, Wipha, then at full typhoon strength, barrelled across southern China.
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