Super typhoon Yagi kills four in Vietnam

BBC:

Super Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm in Asia this year, has killed at least four people after making landfall in northern Vietnam.

The storm hit Hai Phong and Quang Ninh provinces with winds of up to 203 km/h (126 mph) on Saturday morning, the Indo-Pacific Tropical Cyclone Warning Center said.

Strong winds and flying debris have caused damage to buildings and vehicles, with falling trees leading to power outages in the capital, Hanoi.

State media said three people died in the northern Quang Ninh province on Saturday, with another killed in Hai Duong, near Hanoi. Some 78 people are thought to be injured in the region.

In Hai Phong, news agency AFP reports metal roof sheets and commercial sign boards were seen flying across the city.

It comes after Yagi wreaked havoc on the island of Hainan – a popular tourist destination dubbed China’s Hawaii – on Friday.

At least three people have died in China due to the storm, and nearly 100 injured.

The city of Hai Phong on the coast of northern Vietnam has a population of two million and has faced the brunt of the storm.

Power outages hit parts of the city, home to multinational factories, on Saturday while four of the north’s airports have suspended operations for much of the day.

Nearly 50,000 people have been evacuated from coastal towns in Vietnam with authorities issuing a stay indoors warning.

Schools have been closed in 12 northern provinces, including in the capital Hanoi.