Typhoon Wipha has unleashed torrential rain across multiple regions as it barrels towards Vietnam, with rainfall exceeding 200mm, sparking concerns over flooding and landslides.

VOV.VN - Typhoon Wipha, Vietnam’s third storm of the year, weakened into a tropical depression on the evening of July 22 after sweeping through northern and north-central provinces, triggering intense rainfall and heightening the risk of flash floods and landslides.

Typhoon Wipha started building up over the South China Sea before hitting Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, and making its way towards Vietnam. Video credit: CSU/CIRA & JMA/JAXA

PANO - On July 21, the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army sent a dispatch to all agencies and units in the military to carry out comprehensive measures to respond to typhoon Wipha.

Typhoon Wipha has toppled trees and caused major flight disruptions in Hong Kong and at some nearby airports in China as it moved west off the country’s southern coast.

The thunderstorm came so suddenly that it overturned the boat within seconds, said two survivors of the shipwreck which killed at least 35 people in Vietnam's top tourist spot of Halong Bay and left another four missing.

The death toll from a tourist boat accident in Vietnam’s Halong Bay climbed to at least 38 with several people still missing, the government said, as rescuers continued to search for survivors while bracing for the approach of Typhoon Wipha.

VOV.VN - Typhoon Wipha, packing powerful winds and torrential rains, is expected to move into the Gulf of Tonkin on July 21, and strike the northern coastal provinces of Vietnam within the coming hours,