One dead and ten injured as almost 300,000 evacuate for Vietnam typhoon
Typhoon Doksuri has slammed into central Vietnam, killing one person and injuring 10 others as it brought rain and strong winds that ripped off roofs and electricity poles.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 84mph, the typhoon made landfall in Ha Tinh province, beating down on six coastal districts, destroying roofs on 62,500 houses and downing trees and utility poles, said disaster official Ngo Duc Hoi.
In the neighbouring province of Quang Binh, a man fell to his death when he tried to reinforce his house, while 10 people were injured by falling trees or debris, a disaster official said, adding that another 50,000 homes were damaged with mostly tin roofs blown away.
Typhoon #Doksuri has made landfall in #Vietnam, bringing high winds and heavy rainfall https://t.co/5u0jEYazgZ pic.twitter.com/abIqkbyZsH
— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) September 15, 2017
The typhoon had gusts of up to 115mph.
The whole province was blacked out as authorities cut off power ahead of the storm. Isolated flooding was reported in some villages.
Doksuri swept through the Philippines on Tuesday as a less powerful tropical depression, killing at least four people and leaving another six missing.
The Vietnam Disaster Management Authority said in a report that as of early Friday morning, 79,000 villagers in high-risk areas in five central provinces had been evacuated and another 210,000 were to be moved to safety ahead of the typhoon.
Forecasters have warned of flash floods and landslides in some parts of the country's northern and central regions. The typhoon is expected to weaken before dissipating in northern Laos on Saturday.
Vietnam, a country of 93 million people, is prone to floods and storms that kill hundreds of people each year.
Typhoon Doksuri has hit central Vietnam with maximum sustained winds of 84 miles per hour, blowing off roofs and felling trees and electricity poles.
Disaster official Ngo Duc Hoi in Ha Tinh province, where the typhoon made landfall today, said six coastal districts were feeling the brunt of the storm.
There are no immediate reports of casualties amid gusts of up to 115 mph and heavy rain.
Agriculture Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong told state television VTV that people's safety was the government's top priority.
Doksuri swept through the Philippines on Tuesday as a less powerful tropical depression, killing at least four people and leaving another six missing.
The Vietnam Disaster Management Authority said in a report that as of early this morning, 79,000 villagers in high-risk areas in five central provinces had been evacuated and another 210,000 were to be moved to safety ahead of the typhoon.
Forecasters have warned of flash floods and landslides in some parts of the country's northern and central regions.
The typhoon is expected to weaken before dissipating in northern Laos early tomorrow.
Vietnam, a country of 93 million people, is prone to floods and storms that kill hundreds of people each year.
