Vietnam is facing extreme weather conditions. The death toll has risen to 59 in the country hit by Typhoon Yagi, with at least 299 people injured. The country’s meteorological agency, defining Yagi as the most powerful typhoon to hit Vietnam in decades, warned that heavy rains could trigger floods and landslides.
A busy steel bridge over the Red River in the northern province of Phu Tho collapsed this morning after heavy rain and winds brought by Typhoon Yagi. Three people were rescued, and no fatalities were reported.
In Sa Pa town, a popular trekking base known for its terraced rice fields and mountains, six people, including a baby, died in a landslide caused by heavy rains. Local tourism in Sa Pa has been suspended until further notice.
The storm also knocked down power poles in Quang Ninh and Haiphong provinces. According to the state-owned company EVN, 5.7 million customers were affected by power outages in northern Vietnam on Saturday and Sunday. The extent of the restoration work completed is not yet clear.
Additionally, the typhoon damaged about 116,000 hectares of important agricultural land, mostly used for rice cultivation. Municipal workers, the army, and police forces in Hanoi have started cleaning up fallen trees, billboards, and electricity poles.
Vietnam hosts some of the world’s most important companies, with many significant factories, both domestic and foreign-owned, located in the north. Hong Sun, President of the Korea Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, described the typhoon as a “disaster” for businesses, especially in Haiphong, a port city severely affected by the typhoon.
Among the victims of the typhoon was a family of four in the mountainous Hoa Binh province, where heavy rain caused a hillside to collapse on top of a house.
Susumu Yoshida from the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported that the roof of an electronics company was blown off, and their products were submerged in water.
The impact of Typhoon Yagi on Vietnam has been devastating, causing loss of life, infrastructure damage, power outages, and disruptions to businesses and agriculture. The country is now working on recovery and rebuilding efforts to overcome the aftermath of this powerful storm.