Typhoon Matmo made landfall on the southern coast of China on Sunday afternoon after sweeping across Hainan province, forcing the evacuation of about 350,000 people. The powerful storm unleashed torrential rain and destructive winds between Wuchuan in Guangdong and Wenchang in Hainan, prompting China’s highest-level red alert.
Matmo, the 21st typhoon of the year, packed sustained winds of 94 mph (151 km/h) and dumped more than 50 mm (2 in) of rain in just six hours in Chongzou and Qinzhou. Zhanjiang saw major transport disruptions, with businesses closed and roads blocked, while 100 flights were delayed or canceled in Hong Kong. Ferry services across the South China Sea were also suspended.
As the system moved inland toward Vietnam’s Cao Bang province, it weakened into a tropical depression but continued to bring torrential rain. Northern Vietnam faced between 130 and 150 mm (5–6 in) of rain on Monday, heightening the risk of floods and landslides.
That risk quickly materialized. By Wednesday, Oct. 8th, record-breaking floods had submerged large parts of northern Vietnam, leaving at least eight people dead and tens of thousands stranded. Streets in Thai Nguyen city, about 80 km (50 mi) north of Hanoi, were completely underwater, with floodwaters reaching car rooftops and the upper floors of homes.
The military deployed 30,000 personnel, thousands of boats, and three helicopters to drop more than four tonnes of food and supplies to isolated residents in Lang Son province. Flood levels on three northern rivers—the Trung, Bang, and Thuong—surged to heights not seen in nearly 40 years, surpassing records set during Typhoon Yagi last September.
More than 200 families were evacuated after the Bac Khe 1 hydropower dam in Lang Son province partially burst, causing an estimated US$1.9 million in losses. Local authorities warned that prolonged rainfall from Matmo and last week’s Typhoon Bualoi could exacerbate the flooding crisis in the days ahead.
Animation showing the evolution of a trio of storms ⛈️: typhoon #Halong 🌀 joined by tropical cyclone #Matmo and tropical storm #Nakri, from 3 to 7 November. pic.twitter.com/vllVoYcTqc
— EUMETSAT (@eumetsat) November 8, 2019
