Typhoon Floods Kill Five, Leave Two Missing in Central Vietnam

At least five people have died and two remain missing after powerful winds and heavy rains from Typhoon Wutip triggered widespread flooding across central Vietnam, officials confirmed on Saturday.

According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, three deaths were recorded in Quang Tri province, while two others died and two went missing in neighboring Quang Binh province.

The storm, which battered the region before making landfall in southern China with gusts reaching up to 128 kilometers per hour (80 mph), was downgraded to a tropical storm after moving over the Gulf of Tonkin.

Floodwaters submerged over 70,000 hectares (172,000 acres) of farmland, compounding damage to local communities.

In preparation for Wutip’s impact, Chinese authorities on Hainan Island evacuated thousands, shut schools, and suspended train services. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center projected the storm would weaken and dissipate by the end of the weekend.

Vietnam continues to grapple with the rising toll of climate-driven disasters. In 2024, 514 people were killed in natural calamities—three times the number recorded in the previous year.

Last September, Typhoon Yagi devastated northern Vietnam, leaving 345 people dead and causing $3.3 billion in damages.