Typhoon Ragasa weakens, set to hit northern Vietnam with strong winds and heavy rain

Thứ 5: 09:10 ngày 25/09/2025

Typhoon Ragasa is continuing to weaken as it approaches northern Vietnam, but it is still expected to bring strong winds along the Quang Ninh–Hai Phong coast and heavy rainfall in northern provinces.

After battering Guangdong Province and the Leizhou Peninsula in China overnight, Ragasa has been downgraded by three levels.

Strong wind and light rain at Bach Long Vi Island off Hai Phong port city on Sept. 25, 2025.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that at 4 a.m. Thursday, the storm's center was in Guangdong, approximately 170 km from the city of Mong Cai, Quang Ninh, with maximum sustained winds of 88 km per hour.

The storm is forecast to move west at 20 kph along the coast of Guangdong into the Gulf of Tonkin, reaching Mong Cai around noon with winds of approximately 74 kph.

By 4 p.m., Ragasa is expected to weaken to a tropical depression. By 4 a.m. on Friday, the low-pressure area will weaken further in Vietnam's northwest region.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the storm's maximum winds were around 90 kph early on Thursday morning and will decrease rapidly as the center moves over land. Hong Kong Observatory noted that the storm would shift north into Mong Cai after moving down to the sea.

The northwest area of the East Sea will experience strong winds, with waves reaching 3-5 m. In the Gulf of Tonkin, including islands such as Bach Long Vi, Van Don, Co To, Cat Hai and Hon Dau, wind level will rise gradually with waves of 2-4 m.

Coastal areas of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong and inland northern provinces will see strong winds. Heavy rain is expected from early morning to Friday night, with 150-300 mm in most areas and 450 mm in some places.

Rivers in north central provinces like Thanh Hoa and Nghe An may experience flooding from Thursday until Saturday.

The rainfall may cause flash floods in small rivers, flooding in low areas and landslides on steep slopes.

Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and Hanoi have already experienced rain Thursday morning. Areas closest to the eye of the storm, like Tra Co and Mong Cai, report light rain and calm seas.

Authorities have issued storm response directives. Quang Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Phong and Nghe An have prohibited ships from sailing. Wards in Mong Cai and Hai Phong have let students stay at home. Airlines also changed the schedule of many flights from Thanh Hoa, Hai Phong and Da Nang.

Typhoon Ragasa first formed on Sept. 18 as a tropical depression near the Philippines and exploded in intensity, strengthening by eight levels in just three days. On Sept. 22, it reached its peak with winds of 221 kph, making it the strongest storm recorded in the East Sea in 70 years, surpassing 2024's Typhoon Yagi.

On Sept. 23, the storm struck Taiwan, causing a reservoir collapse, destroying bridges, flooding towns, and killing at least 14 people with 33 missing, according to update by Reuters as of Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, Ragasa hit the coastal city of Jiangmen in Guangdong Province, China, with winds of 241 kph, surpassing the 196 kph record set by Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018.