The Gulf of Tonkin is a route sometimes taken by typhoons originating near the Philippines as they travel westward in the prevailing tropical easterlies. In 1881 Haiphong Typhoon traveled this route after it originated near the Spanish East Indies. The city of Haiphong lies about 10 miles from the coast of the Gulf of Tonkin and also on the Red River in a low elevation area, connected to an access channel. By the time the typhoon landed in 1881, the town was still a young port established by the French in 1874.
Meteorological history
While the storm's category and strength is uncertain, records show that the storm developed near the Philippines in late September and by the time it hit Luzon on September 30, it was already strong enough to cause casualties and disrupt society. Once it was in the South China Sea, its power increased again as it entered into the Gulf of Tonkin, avoiding anymore land before it hit the gulf's coast.
Casualties
In Vietnam alone, about 300,000 people were killed in and around Haiphong, and estimated 10,000–20,000 deaths in the modern territory of the Philippines, making it the deadliest Philippine typhoon ever recorded. It was three times the casualty count of Typhoon Haiyan, the deadliest Philippine typhoon in modern meteorological records, and is the second-deadliest tropical cyclone in history of the world tied with India 1839 with over 300,000 fatalities.. Haiphong, being a low-lying port town, was devastated both physically and economically. Its geography only made the damage escalate. With the high waves and winds, rice fields were flooded, buildings were decimated, trees were ripped up, etc. By the time the typhoon passed, most of the town was wiped out. Then, due to the inability to operate as a port town, Haiphong's economy also took impact.
Aftermath
The typhoon of 1881 is not a common occurrence because its path around Hainan is what made it so strong by the time it hit Haiphong. This has not happened again since 1881, but analyses predict that it will happen again. The Vietnamese government has also taken action in case of another severe typhoon hitting the area. Haiphong now has a flood defense system including dykes/levees, a flood warning service provided by Vietnam's Meteorological Service, and evacuation plans. However, Haiphong still serves as a port, so any large storms will harm the economy.
