Typhoon Wipha whips Vietnam as Philippines flooding displaces thousands

Following Typhoon Wipha, which is currently roiling toward the coast of northern Vietnam as a severe tropical storm, rain and flooding have continued in the Philippines. Five people were killed and thousands of people were displaced over the weekend.

According to Vietnam’s national weather forecasting agency, Wipha was 60 kilometers (37 miles) off the coast of Haiphong City at 6am local time on Tuesday (23:00 GMT).

An estimated 350, 000 Vietnamese soldiers are on standby as the country’s weather agency anticipates up to 500mm (20 inches) of rainfall, which could lead to dangerous flooding and landslides. Neither casualties nor damage have been reported so far.

According to the organization, Wipha is projected to weaken to a low-pressure event on Tuesday night as a result of the anticipated landfall in Hung Yen and Ninh Binh provinces south of Hanoi.

Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes on Tuesday, and at least two people are believed missing. The flooding, which was brought on by torrential rains in the Philippine capital, Manila, brought much of life to a halt.

Following a night of rain that caused the Marikina River to burst its banks, schools and government buildings in Manila and the surrounding provinces remained closed.

More than 23 000 people along the river were evacuated and found refuge in schools, village halls, and covered courtyards. In the cities of Quezon and Caloocan, another 25, 000 people were forced to leave.

According to John Paul Nietes, an assistant supervisor of the emergency operations center, an elderly woman and her driver were swept down a swollen stream in Caloocan as they attempted to cross a bridge.

“It was found last night.” He said that the rescue operation is ongoing, but neither one of them has been found as of right now.

According to the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, at least five people have been reported dead as of Monday, according to local news agency Enquirer. reported by . According to the council, seven people are also missing.

Every year, at least 20 storms or typhoons hit or pass the Philippines, with the poorest areas of the country typically suffering the most. As storms become stronger and more destructive, climate change has made their effects worse and worse.