Storm Maysak tears off roofs, topples trees as it hits Vietnam's northern border

A metal roof collapsed by Storm Maysak on Dong Tri Street in Mong Cai 1 Ward, Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam. Photo by Nguyen Hau

Storm Maysak, packing winds of 62-88 kph and gusts of up to 117 kph, made landfall in Vietnam's Mong Cai town that borders China on the evening of July 4, toppling trees and tearing off metal roofing.

Winds picked up from around 6 p.m., with heavy rain coming in bursts and trees snapping and falling across the wards of Mong Cai 1, Mong Cai 2 and Mong Cai 3. Metal roofing on some top floors was ripped loose and blown into the streets. As the wind eased, authorities deployed vehicles and machinery to saw through and clear the debris to keep residents safe.

By 7:30 p.m., the storm reached the Mong Cai coastline.

Nguyen Hau, a resident of Mong Cai 1 Ward, said he could still hear the wind howling even indoors with the doors shut. Residents stayed off the streets, and the power grid kept running. "If the storm passes slowly, it will cause a lot of damage," he predicted.

In the waters off Mong Cai, torrential rain and heavy swells set a sand carrier and a container ship adrift. The two vessels had three crew members aboard.

The waterway police stationed a standby force at Mui Ngoc, coordinating with other units to reach the vessels and prepare rescue operations once weather conditions allow.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said the storm brought winds of 75-88 kph and gusts up to 102 kph to the Bach Long Vi special zone in Hai Phong; winds of 62-74 kph, gusts up to 88 kph and 2.25-m waves at Co To near Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh; and winds of 62-74 kph with gusts up to 88 kph at Cua Ong and Quang Ha, also in Quang Ninh.

Winds of 62-88 kph, gusting up to 117 kph, were forecast to persist until around 11 p.m. along Quang Ninh's coast and coastal waters. From the night of July 4 into the morning of July 5, the northeastern region, centered on Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Lang Son and Bac Ninh, is expected to see heavy rain and possible flooding in low-lying areas. Mountainous communes face a risk of flash floods and landslides.

After passing through Mong Cai, Storm Maysak pushed deeper into southern Guangxi Province in China and weakened into a tropical depression.

Ahead of the storm, the Quang Ninh Provincial Military Command mobilized nearly 4,000 officers and soldiers, 70 vehicles and nearly 60 boats, canoes and specialized vehicles on standby, ready to carry out rescue operations if needed.