Super Typhoon Yagi Forces Closure of Four Vietnamese Airports, Disrupts Supply Chains

Vietnam is bracing for the impact of Super Typhoon Yagi, which has forced the closure of four airports and disrupted critical supply chains in the country, Nikkei Asia reports.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) announced the suspension of around 240 domestic and 70 international flights on Saturday, citing safety concerns and potential damage to airport infrastructure.

The affected airports include those in Hanoi and Thanh Hoa, the port city of Haiphong, and Quang Ninh province, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay and numerous factories for companies such as VinFast, Pegatron, and USI.

“We have to seize the ‘golden moment’ to prepare for Typhoon Yagi,” said Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to mitigate the storm’s impact.

The megastorm, which is currently traversing the Gulf of Tonkin, poses a major threat to various sectors, including oil and gas fields in the South China Sea, mining operations in the north, the power grid, hydropower dams, fish farms, and rice paddies.

In anticipation of the storm’s arrival, authorities have issued warnings to residents, ordered the evacuation of fishing boats and vulnerable homes, and put emergency personnel and vehicles on standby. Trees have been pruned, and infrastructure like reservoirs and dikes have been inspected.

Local media reported that hundreds of tourist cruises in Ha Long Bay have been canceled.

Despite its vulnerability to natural disasters, Vietnam has been recognized for its effective disaster preparedness and early warning systems. The country, with its 3,000-kilometer coastline and location within the monsoon season, is no stranger to floods and other weather-related events.

Yagi is expected to bring 8-meter waves and strong winds stretching across a 250-kilometer radius.