After previously hitting Japan and the Philippines and killing eight people, Typhoon Noru moved into Vietnam on Wednesday night (local time) and hit coastal areas. Strong winds and heavy rain in the central regions of the Southeast Asian country. Power went out in several provinces, damaging thousands of homes. No deaths were initially reported, authorities said.
The weather bureau continued to forecast heavy rain and warned of flash flooding and landslides. However, “Noru” was less furious than feared: The wind speed was up to 133 kilometers per hour when the storm hit the coast, the national meteorological authority said. The typhoon then weakened to top speeds of 117 kilometers per hour.
As a precaution, authorities had brought hundreds of thousands of people to safety on Tuesday and closed ten airports. A curfew was also imposed.
streets under water
The large city of Da Nang and the coastal provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai were particularly hard hit. Popular with tourists from all over the world and whose picturesque Old Town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, Hoi An has seen many streets flooded, the VnExpress newspaper reported.
Hoping for further weakening before hitting Thailand
The storm moved west. It was expected to be downgraded to a tropical depression before reaching Thailand. “Noru” had previously passed over the Philippines and was temporarily classified as a “super typhoon”. The wind gusts reached top speeds of 150 miles per hour in the island state. At least eight people died.
“Noru” has also led to massive flooding in Cambodia. On Wednesday, at least 16 people had drowned in the flooding in the Southeast Asian country, the Phnom Penh Post newspaper reported, citing civil defense. The Mekong River, in particular, has been swollen due to the ongoing rain. Thousands of houses and roads, especially in the border area with Thailand, have been badly damaged.
“The typhoon will slowly weaken and become a tropical depression,” said a spokesman for the Ministry of Water Resources. However, heavy rain is expected in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand in the coming days. People in low-lying areas in particular were urged to be extra careful and warned of flash flooding.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
