Another typhoon has made its way to Asia as it struck Vietnam and is now heading westwards to Thailand.
Initially a tropical storm, typhoon Noru originated in the Philippine Sea on 23 September, propagating westwards while gathering moisture and strength.
More than 2 million people live in the worst affected areas, according to a disaster analysis, and nearly 430,000 people were directly impacted.
Vietnam reportedly imposed a curfew and evacuated over 800,000 people as the powerful storm left at least eight dead in the Philippines.
Some 4,000 people were evacuated from Northeastern Thailand.
Flights at five regional airports were cancelled amid Noru landfall and train services halted until the typhoon passes.
National weather agencies said the typhoon was bringing maximum sustained winds of 180 kilometres per hour.
Typhoon #Noru has made landfall in #VietNam as strong Cat. 2 equivalent hurricane. High winds and devastating rainfall.
— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) September 28, 2022
We hope that #EarlyWarningEarlyAction in VietNam has limited casualties from this powerful typhoon.
Himawari 8 satellite image 27.09.2022, 1800 UTC pic.twitter.com/UHawgwnr8i
Although the impact on port operations has yet to be assessed, critical weather conditions have severely disrupted Asian supply chains over the past few weeks.
First came storm Hinnamnor in early September, prompting South Korea’s Busan port to shut its terminals.
Most recently, local authorities ordered the stop of all operations at Chinese major ports as Muifa, one of this year’s strongest typhoons, hit the country’s coastal areas in mid-September.
Hurricane Ian, which ripped through the west coast of Florida earlier this week, is forecast to make landfall between Charleston and Myrtle Beach in the afternoon on 30 September.