A fallen advertising billboard is seen at Ha Long Bay in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan in Vietnam's northern Quang Ninh province, 180 km (112 miles) from Hanoi November 11, 2013. Thirteen people were killed and dozens hurt during heavy winds and storms in Vietnam as Haiyan approached the coast, state media reported, even though it had weakened substantially after hitting the Philippines. Vietnam authorities have moved 883,000 people in 11 central provinces to safe zones, according to the government's website. A further 150,000 people were moved to safe areas in northern provinces, authorities said. REUTERS/Kham
Category 5 super typhoon Haiyan, although already with a weakened intensity, continued to live up to its title of being the world's strongest typhoon in 2013. As it left the Philippines with much destruction and chaos, including an estimated 10,000 death toll, it continued to barrage towards China and Vietnam, lashing at the two countries with the same force and brute.
State national radio broadcaster Voice of Vietnam said at least 13 have died in the country, with 81 injured. In China, nine people have reportedly died, according to Xinhua News, while seven remain missing in Hainan and Guangxi provinces.
A man sits at his damaged shop in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan in Vietnam's northern Quang Ninh province, 180 km (112 miles) from Hanoi November 11, 2013. Thirteen people were killed and dozens hurt during heavy winds and storms in Vietnam as Haiyan approached the coast, state media reported, even though it had weakened substantially after hitting the Philippines. Vietnam authorities have moved 883,000 people in 11 central provinces to safe zones, according to the government's website. A further 150,000 people were moved to safe areas in northern provinces, authorities said. REUTERS/Kham
Haiyan largely targeted Vietnam's coastal towns. Its capital Hanoi was largely unscathed.
In China, strong winds damaged 600 houses and collapsed 51 others.
Residents in Vietnam's northern port city of Hai Phong reported feeling an earthquake temblor when their houses shook, while Haiyan raged on.
"The storm was really big. I cannot think of any other bigger storm than this over the past several years. I felt my house shaking last night," Nguyen Hung Nam told ABC News.
This, despite a weakened intensity of wind gusts of up to 74 mph.
A man walks in front of his damaged restaurant at Ha Long Bay in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan in Vietnam's northern Quang Ninh province, 180 km (112 miles) from Hanoi November 11, 2013. Thirteen people were killed and dozens hurt during heavy winds and storms in Vietnam as Haiyan approached the coast, state media reported, even though it had weakened substantially after hitting the Philippines. Vietnam authorities have moved 883,000 people in 11 central provinces to safe zones, according to the government's website. A further 150,000 people were moved to safe areas in northern provinces, authorities said. REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT WEATHER)
"When it hit Vietnam it was still a typhoon," Kevin Noth, a lead meteorologist at The Weather Channel, was quoted by NBC News. "But then it weakened sufficiently to be downgraded to a tropical storm. It is certainly the most powerful tropical cyclone of the year."
Still, Haiyan left thousands without power in Vietnam. Trees were uprooted and billboards were ripped from their stands.
Its strong winds and heavy rain tensed shipowners in China, forcing them to evacuate ships off the coast of southern China.
"After researching this, we believe that when it hit the Philippines this may have been the strongest ever recorded storm to make landfall," Mr Noth said. "There have been more powerful storms over the sea, but this could be the strongest ever to hit land."
A man walks past fallen tree branches after typhoon Haiyan hit Sanya, Hainan province November 11, 2013. Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded, killed an estimated 10,000 people in central Philippines, according to officials. Despite weakening, the storm is likely to cause heavy rains, flooding, strong winds and mudslides as it makes its way north in the South China Sea. REUTERS/Stringer (CHINA - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT) CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA
