Four airports shut down ahead of Yagi landfall in Vietnam

The four airports are Noi Bai in Hanoi, Van Don in Quang Ninh, Cat Bi in Hai Phong and Tho Xuan in Thanh Hoa, said CAAV director Dinh Viet Thang at a meeting on September 5 discussing Yagi response measures.

Yagi is a powerful typhoon that could affect approximately 240 domestic flights and 70 international flights, and airport closures are necessary for safety reasons, said Thang.

He asked airlines to proactively inform passengers about airport closures to help them make appropriate travel plans. He also reminded airlines to consider additional flights starting from September 8 to ensure they can meet passenger travel demands following the typhoon.

Earlier, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) has asked the CAAV to closely monitor the developments of super typhoon Yagi and close several airports if necessary.

In addition to the four airports, Vinh airport in Nghe An province and Dien Bien airport in Dien Bien province will also be impacted by Yagi but to a less extent. They are advised to stay ready to respond to any unusual developments of the super typhoon.

Early on September 6, Yagi sustained its winds gusting 201kph near its centre after strengthening into the super typhoon category the previous day.

The super typhoon is forecast to move into the Gulf of Tonkin and cause heavy rain across northern coastal provinces of Vietnam in a couple of hours.

Due to its powerful force, Yagi will certainly cause strong winds, storm surges, and high waves at sea and along the coast, as well as strong winds and widespread heavy rain on land.