Tropical Storm Wipha made landfall on Vietnam’s northern coast early Monday, bringing heavy rain, powerful wind gusts, and widespread disruption across the Red River Delta and surrounding provinces. The storm, which developed in the Philippine Sea and intensified while crossing southern China, reached Vietnamese shores between Haiphong and Thanh Hóa provinces, with wind speeds of up to 102 km/h and gusts peaking near 166 km/h.

Ahead of its arrival, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh issued an urgent directive mobilizing emergency resources across key northern regions. Over 350,000 personnel were placed on high alert, and mass evacuations were ordered in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Provinces from Quảng Ninh to Thanh Hóa and mountainous areas including Lào Cai and Lai Châu activated flood response protocols. Authorities suspended ferry operations, secured river dikes, and ensured emergency supplies were stocked in vulnerable districts.

Rainfall exceeded 500 millimeters in several areas, prompting landslide warnings and flash flood alerts. The storm struck while search and rescue teams were still recovering from a weekend boat tragedy in Ha Long Bay, where a tourist vessel capsized during pre-storm rains, killing at least 35 people. The ongoing bad weather has severely hampered recovery efforts.

Vietnamese air carriers, including Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vietjet, canceled over 20 domestic and international flights, while railway and port operations were suspended in some coastal regions. Emergency alerts were broadcast via SMS and public loudspeakers to ensure rapid dissemination of safety instructions.

Storm Wipha had earlier battered Hong Kong, Macau, and southern China, leaving behind a trail of flooding, landslides, and disrupted transportation systems. As the system weakened while moving inland over northern Vietnam, authorities warned that the risk of secondary disasters remained high, particularly in mountainous terrain and areas surrounding the Red River.

Meteorological officials confirmed that Wipha continues to dump rain across northern provinces, with precipitation totals likely to reach between 170 and 600 millimeters before the storm fully dissipates. Residents have been advised to remain indoors, monitor official bulletins, and avoid riverbanks and unstable slopes.

Vietnam’s disaster management forces remain on full alert, coordinating local and national response units to prevent further casualties and minimize infrastructural damage.