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DANANG – Vietnam ordered hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate their homes today as Super Typhoon Noru barrelled towards the busy city of Danang, with forecasters predicting the storm would be one of the biggest to hit the country.
Almost half of Vietnam’s airports have been shut, schools and offices across several central provinces were closed and residents rushed to find shelter before the expected arrival of the typhoon tomorrow.
After slamming into the Philippines earlier this week, where it killed six people, Noru is predicted to make landfall as a super typhoon before 11am and then subside to a severe typhoon as it makes its way inland.
Vietnam's flood and storm control authority said wind speeds would reach 160km per hour, equalling Typhoon Xangsane – which hit Danang in 2006 and killed 76 people.
Authorities have urged 400,000 people to leave their homes, including in the popular tourist city of Hoi An, where residents were brought to a primary school.
“I wanted to leave. My house is not very strong. I am afraid its roof might be blown away when the typhoon hits,” Huynh Mua said, clutching a plastic bag full of clothes, a blanket and several packets of instant noodles.
In Danang, Vietnam’s third-biggest city, all shops and hotels were closed, while residents have been banned from going out on the streets since late today.
According to data from the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, located in Hawaii, Super Typhoon Noru will be only the sixth major typhoon to hit Vietnam since 1945.
Naru hit the Philippines’ Luzon island on Sunday and yesterday, toppling trees, knocking out power and flooding low-lying communities.
Five rescuers were killed after being sent to help flooded residents, while another man died after he was hit by a landslide. Officials estimate about $2.4 million (RM11.06 million) worth of crops were damaged. – AFP, September 27, 2022