Typhoon Yagi, one of the most powerful storms to hit the region in the last decade, slammed into Vietnam on Saturday after leaving destruction in its wake across southern China. The storm claimed the lives of two people and injured 92 others as it made landfall on the Chinese island of Hainan.
In Vietnam, the typhoon brought fierce winds reaching over 149 kph (92 mph), uprooting thousands of trees and sweeping ships and boats out to sea. Vietnamese authorities had issued warnings, calling Yagi one of the most dangerous typhoons the region has faced in the past ten years.
Earlier, Yagi made landfall in Hainan, China, with winds of up to 234 kph (145 mph), tearing through the island and causing widespread damage. Power outages affected over 800,000 households, and 420,000 residents were evacuated ahead of the storm. Public transportation was paralyzed, and Hainan's main airport in Haikou remained closed for hours.
As the storm moved on, it was downgraded from a Category 4 to a Category 3 typhoon, with winds of 187 kph (116 mph). However, the threat in Vietnam remains, with Yagi set to affect provinces near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay and the Gulf of Tonkin.
Despite Yagi losing some strength after hitting China, the damage to both countries has already been severe, with evacuation efforts in full force as the storm continues its westward path.
