Vietnam gears for arrival of typhoon

Vietnam gears for arrival of typhoon

HANOI (AFP): Vietnam was gearing up for the arrival of the third typhoon in two months to hit the north of the country, which in July and August suffered the two most deadly typhoons to ravage the country in a decade.

The national meteorological center said Typhoon Sally was expected to arrive yesterday evening, with winds estimated at 130 kilometers per hour.

It is expected to hit the port of Haiphong and the province of Quang Ninh, around 200 kilometers northeast of Hanoi, near the Chinese border.

Meteorologists have warned the local authorities of the approaching storm, which yesterday morning was about 400 kilometers from the coast of Quang Ninh province, an official at the center said.

Typhoons Frankie and Niki in July and August left nearly 300 dead and more than 900 missing, according to provisional tolls. The damage bill has been estimated at least US$280 million.