January 22, 2026
World
World
TOKYO, Jan 22 — Japan has halted the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant just hours after it began, though the reactor remains “stable,” the operator said.
HANOI, July 23 — Tropical Storm Wipha has triggered severe flooding in central Vietnam, leaving hundreds of families stranded as rising waters submerged homes and cut off access to several villages, local authorities reported on Wednesday.
Ahead of the storm’s landfall on Tuesday, approximately 12,500 residents were evacuated from high-risk areas over the weekend as authorities braced for heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides.
In Nghe An province, officials said the Ban Ve hydropower plant—the region’s largest—was forced to release water from its reservoir due to excessive rainfall.
By Tuesday night, floodwaters had risen to rooftop levels in several communities, prompting urgent evacuations to higher ground.
“The water levels this year are far worse than the historic floods of 1988,” said resident Nguyen Thai Hung in an interview with Dan Tri news. “We’re overwhelmed—floodwaters have reached the roofs of our homes.”
More than 200 families in Yen Hoa commune were left isolated after flash floods destroyed the main road leading to the village, officials added.
Earlier, Wipha had swept through the Philippines, killing at least six people and displacing tens of thousands. Even days later, parts of Manila remained submerged.
Experts warn that climate change is fueling more extreme weather events, increasing the likelihood of severe flooding.
Last Friday, an unexpected whirlwind and erratic weather overturned a tourist boat in Vietnam’s UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay, claiming 37 lives, including several children.
Vietnam also suffered one of its worst weather disasters in recent years in September 2024, when Typhoon Yagi tore through the country’s northern region, killing 345 people and causing an estimated US$3.3 billion (RM13.95 billion) in economic damage. — AFP
