STORY: People in the coastal province of Quang Ninh in Vietnam are rushing to strengthen their roofs and doorways on Monday (July 21) as Typhoon Wipha approaches and is expected to make landfall early on Tuesday (July 22).

“I want to learn from last year’s mistakes, when we underestimated the Yagi storm”, said 40-year-old warehouse manager Ngo Van Thuong, as he manoeuvred a bulldozer towards the shutter doors of his warehouse, firmly pressing its bucket against the door to reinforce against the coming storm.

Vietnam's Prime Minister put coastal provinces on emergency footing for Typhoon Wipha, saying it could cause flooding and landslides, as airlines cancelled flights ahead of the storm's expected landfall early on Tuesday (July 22).

Wipha is expected to complicate the search for people still missing after a tourist boat capsized during a thunderstorm in Halong Bay in northern Vietnam on Saturday (July 19), killing more than 30 people.

The storm is forecast to cross Vietnam's northern coast between Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh provinces and the national weather agency has said it is carrying heavy rains that could cause dangerous floods and mudslides.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent an urgent message to coastal provinces on Sunday (July 20) night to call boats ashore, evacuate people from flood-prone areas, prepare food supplies and rescue equipment and secure communication infrastructure.

With a long coastline facing the South China Sea, Vietnam is prone to typhoons that are often deadly. Last year, Typhoon Yagi killed around 300 people and caused $3.3 billion of damage.

Over the weekend, Wipha hit Hong Kong, felling trees and scaffolding and forcing over 200 people to seek refuge at temporary shelters.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Vietnamese coastal provinces on emergency footing as Typhoon Wipha nears

VIDEO SHOWS: STREETS WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC IN THE RAIN / LOCALS BARRICADING DOORWAYS AND TAPING UP WINDOWS / SOUNDBITES FROM RESIDENTS / TOUR BOATS SHELTERING AT DOCK

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: HA LONG CITY, QUANG NINH PROVINCE, VIETNAM (JULY 21, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS IN RAIN ON STREETS

2. RAIN FALLING ON WAREHOUSE

3. BULLDOZER MOVING TOWARDS WAREHOUSE SHUTTER DOOR, PRESSING BUCKET FIRMLY ON SHUTTER DOOR TO REINFORCE IT AGAINST WIND

4. VARIOUS OF BULLDOZER BUCKET PRESSED FIRMLY AGAINST SHUTTER DOOR

5. WAREHOUSE MANAGER NGO VAN THUONG CLIMBING DOWN FROM CABIN OF BULLDOZER

6. THUONG CHECKING ON GAP BETWEEN BUCKET AND SHUTTER DOOR

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) 40-YEAR-OLD WAREHOUSE MANAGER, NGO VAN THUONG, SAYING:

“I want to learn from last year’s mistakes, when we underestimated the Yagi storm. Now I know which are the weak points to watch out for. Doorways and roofs are places that need more attention. Since yesterday, I have also put sandbags on top of the roof. I feel that this time it should be fine.”

8. VARIOUS OF CONCRETE BLOCKS, BUCKETS AND PLASTIC BAGS FILLED WITH WATER ON ROOFTOP TO WEIGH DOWN ROOF

9. VARIOUS OF MAN WEARING PONCHO WORKING TO STRENGTHEN ROOF

10. VARIOUS OF MEN WORKING ON ROOF

11. SANDBAGS ON TOP OF ROOF

12. OFFICE WORKER LE TAN PHONG WALKING TOWARDS GLASS DOORS AND WINDOWS

13. VARIOUS OF PHONG REINFORCING GLASS DOORS AND WINDOWS WITH TAPE

14. TAPED UP OFFICE GLASS DOORS AND WINDOWS

15. PHONG REINFORCING OFFICE GLASS DOORS AND WINDOWS FROM INSIDE WITH CHAIRS

16. PHONG PUSHING ARMCHAIR AGAINST GLASS DOOR

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Vietnamese) 29-YEAR-OLD OFFICE WORKER, LE TAN PHONG, SAYING:

“According to the media, this storm is of category 11 to 12, so its strength is approximately 80% of the power of storm Yagi last year. But this year, the people of Quang Ninh Province have learnt ways to prevent severe damage from storms, typhoons and landslides. That’s why I believe the damage this time will be significantly lessened.”

18. VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC ON BRIDGE ACROSS HA LONG BAY

19. VARIOUS OF TOUR BOATS TAKING SHELTER AT DOCK

20. VIETNAMESE FLAG FLYING ON BOAT

21. VARIOUS OF TOUR BOATS TAKING SHELTER AT DOCK