The strong gales brought down big trees and power lines, disrupting traffic and causing power outages across the central region.

Packing strong winds and torrential rain, Wutip forced the closure of schools, offices, shopping centers, construction sites, petrol stations and entertainment parks along its path into Laos.

At least three people were reportedly dead and eight others were injured when Wutip battered Dong Hoi city of Quang Binh province.

A 150m radio antenna was knocked out at the height of the typhoon, killing two people, one from Hanoi’s Thanh Xuan district.

A house in Thua Thien-Hue province was destroyed. Photo by Dan Tri

Typhoon-force gales also brought down a telecom antenna and power poles, paralysing telecommunication services and creating power cuts in large parts of the province.

More than 300 houses collapsed or were unroofed.

In Quang Tri, 17 people were injured, more than 3,700 houses were damaged, and thousands of hectares of rubber were destroyed.

Many local residents were left without power, flooding hit some areas and many roads were blocked.

Many dykes in Phu Loc District, Thua Thien-Hue province were submerged. Photo by Dantri

In Ha Tinh, although Wutip was downgraded when it made landfall, rain still lashed down throughout the evening, flooding many parts of the province.

Power was cut in the city centre until 21.15pm.

The province evacuated nearly 6,000 households from low-lying communes, including 2,516 households in Ky Anh district which was forecast to bear the brunt of the typhoon.

Mass evacuations were ordered in coastal areas as a surge of up to 5m threatened local residents’ lives.

Weather expert said Wutip could dump as much as 300mm of rain on some parts of central provinces, especially Quang Tri, Quang Binh, and Ha Tinh.

Wutip is considered the most destructive typhoon to strike the central region since 2006.