Hayian, packing winds of 117kph when making landfall, was considered the most powerful storm that has hit Quang Ninh and Haiphong for years.
Travelling further inland, the storm weakened into a tropical depression and changed its direction heading towards China.
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| A tree was uprooted on Ton Duc Thang street in Haiphong City early this morning. Photo by Tienphong |
The storm has battered Quang Ninh province for the past few hours, dumping heavy rain on coastal localities.
There are no reports on human casualties.
Heavy rain and rising tide submerged a road along Bai Chay beach in Halong City. Photo by nld
Haiyan, with howling winds of more than 100kph, knocked out power and communications, peeled off many roof sheets, and downed many big trees in Ha Long and Cam Pha cities, and Van Don district.
Widespread blackouts were reported in a number of places in the province.
Strong winds knocked down a 50-m radio antenna tower in Uong Bi city.
In Haiphong city, the storm, accompanied with heavy rain and strong winds, felled big trees, and blew away giant advertising boards.
All pumping stations were mobilised to operate around the clock to prevent severe flooding in the inner city.
Dilapidated residential quarters had been reinforced and local people had been evacuated before Haiyan hit.
The storm caused a blackout in the island district of Cat Hai. Three fishermen were isolated in the cut-off Go Dong area in Hai An district, and they are due to be rescued to border guards on November 11.
Typhoon Haiyan makes landfall in evening
Destructive typhoon Haiyan has weakened a bit after travelling along the central coast, and is forecast to slam into the northern delta in the evening.
At 05.00pm Haiyan was about 270-330km off the central coast of Thanh Hoa and Quang Ninh provinces, packing winds of 149kph near its eye.
In the next 12 hours, the storm will be moving north-west at a speed of 30km and battering the Red river delta provinces.
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At 04.00am on November 11, the storm will be sweeping across the north-eastern provinces, with winds gusting between 62-88kph.
It will then change its course and weaken further before heading towards China.
“The storm is forecast to strike the area between Thai Binh and Haiphong, sweep across Bac Giang, Haiphong, and Quang Ninh, and then change its direction towards China,” said Bui Minh Tang, director of the Central Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Centre.
Clip showing strong waves in Halong this morning:
