Typhoon Wipha, which struck southern China on July 20, has left a trail of destruction in its wake, disrupting daily life in Hong Kong and coastal provinces in mainland China. The storm, which brought intense rainfall and powerful winds, is now moving toward northern Vietnam, prompting emergency alerts and mass evacuations.
In Hong Kong, the storm forced the government to issue its highest storm warning signal, No. 10, for nearly seven hours. Wind speeds reached up to 167 kilometers per hour, and over 110 millimeters of rain fell in just three hours. The storm caused widespread damage, including fallen scaffolding and uprooted trees, particularly in the districts of Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui. Around 450 trees were reported toppled, with 26 people hospitalized and over 250 seeking refuge in emergency shelters. Hong Kong Disneyland and local schools were closed, and ferry services and more than 500 flights were canceled, affecting nearly 80,000 passengers.
After lashing Hong Kong, Wipha made landfall near Taishan in Guangdong province around 5:50 p.m. local time. It quickly weakened to a severe tropical storm but continued to bring torrential rains and strong winds to cities including Yangjiang, Zhanjiang, and Maoming. Authorities in southern China issued warnings for flash floods and landslides, and transportation networks were significantly affected, with delays and cancellations in air and rail services across the region.
In Macau, storm signals were lowered after the typhoon passed, but concerns over flooding in low-lying areas, especially the inner harbor, remained. Coastal airports and high-speed train services experienced delays and suspensions as a precaution.
As Wipha moves southwestward along the Chinese coast, heavy rainfall is forecasted to continue affecting Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Fujian until Tuesday. The storm is expected to re-intensify over the Gulf of Tonkin and make a second landfall in northern Vietnam by Tuesday morning, with the provinces between Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh at highest risk.
In response, Vietnamese authorities have placed northern coastal provinces on high alert. The Prime Minister has ordered the evacuation of vulnerable areas, secured boats and coastal infrastructure, and activated rescue and emergency response teams. Airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, and Pacific Airlines have canceled at least 21 flights scheduled for Monday.
The worsening weather comes as Vietnam continues to search for survivors from a recent boat accident in Ha Long Bay, where over 30 people have been confirmed dead. Rescue operations may be further hampered by the incoming storm.
Elsewhere in the region, the storm’s earlier phases had already impacted the Philippines and Taiwan, causing floods and displacing thousands. In the Philippines, over 420,000 people were affected, and at least four fatalities were reported due to the earlier tropical depression named Crising.
Authorities in all affected countries remain on high alert as Typhoon Wipha continues its path across Southeast Asia, posing ongoing risks of flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage.