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Typhoon Xangsane hits Vietnam Typhoon Xangsane hits Vietnam
(about 3 hours later)
Typhoon Xangsane has hit the central Vietnamese city of Danang and stretches of coastline around it. Typhoon Xangsane has lashed the central Vietnamese city of Danang and damaged hundreds of homes on the neighbouring coastline, knocking out power.
Trees were uprooted and boats capsized as heavy rain and winds of up to a 180km/h (110mph) hit Danang.Trees were uprooted and boats capsized as heavy rain and winds of up to a 180km/h (110mph) hit Danang.
There are no reports of casualties but hundreds of fishermen are still at sea. Authorities had reinforced sea defences and evacuated abut 200,000 residents. Houses along the coast had their roofs blown off and electricity poles were knocked down causing power cuts.
Typhoon Xangsane pounded central and northern Philippines earlier this week, destroying hundreds of homes. Typhoon Xangsane pounded central and northern Philippines earlier this week, killing at least 30 people.
"This is one of the most powerful typhoons to hit Vietnam since 1995," Bui Minh Tang of Vietnam's weather centre told AP news agency. "It is too dangerous to go outside right now," an official in Danang told Reuters news agency. "We have also closed the city to traffic."
National carrier Vietnam Airlines said it had cancelled 48 domestic flights. Trains with thousands of passengers were reportedly stuck in the region. Authorities have reinforced sea defences and evacuated abut 200,000 residents.
However the BBC's Bill Hayton in Hanoi says the effects of the typhoon seem localised so far, with the towns of Hue and Quang Ngai - about 100km (60 miles) to the north and south respectively - reporting conditions that are not so bad. But hundreds of fishermen are still at sea and at least one person has been injured.
National carrier Vietnam Airlines said it had cancelled 48 domestic flights.
Trains with thousands of passengers were reportedly stuck in the region.
Localised damage
The provincial governor of nearby Thua Thien Hue province, Nguyen Xuan Ly, said five people were injured by falling debris. He said nearly 1,000 soldiers and police had been mobilised to help.
However the BBC's Bill Hayton in Hanoi says the effects of the typhoon seem localised so far, with the towns of Hue and Quang Ngai - about 100km (60 miles) to the north and south respectively - reporting conditions that were not too bad.
Xangsane caused severe damage in the Philippines, leaving many roads and bridges impassable. Dozens of people are still missing there.Xangsane caused severe damage in the Philippines, leaving many roads and bridges impassable. Dozens of people are still missing there.
The typhoon was the strongest to hit the capital, Manila, in 11 years, weather officials said.The typhoon was the strongest to hit the capital, Manila, in 11 years, weather officials said.
Government offices and schools there remained closed on Friday as emergency crews worked to fix power lines and clear fallen debris.Government offices and schools there remained closed on Friday as emergency crews worked to fix power lines and clear fallen debris.
More than 60,000 people have reportedly been affected by the aftermath of the typhoon - landslides, floods and wind damage to agriculture and infrastructure.More than 60,000 people have reportedly been affected by the aftermath of the typhoon - landslides, floods and wind damage to agriculture and infrastructure.