How Many Lives Were Lost and What Damage Was Caused?
Local officials allege that Super Typhoon Yagi, the strongest typhoon to strike Asia this year, has caused damage in northern Vietnam and claimed at least 59 fatalities as well as hundreds of injuries. Although the storm, which made landfall in Vietnam on Saturday, has been reduced to a tropical depression, officials have cautioned that additional floods and landslides are likely as Yagi progresses westward.
What Were the Effects of Landslides and Fatalities?
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, landslides claimed at least 44 deaths among the victims. Among the saddest incidents, a family of four lost their house in the hilly Hoa Binh province when a hill crashed over them. Though his wife, daughter, and two grandkids were trapped under the rubble, a 51-year-old man managed to flee. Later on, their remains were found.
A landslide buried seventeen persons in Sa Pa, in the northern Lao Cai province. Nine of them are injured; six of them have been verified deceased. Among the dead are a newborn, a one-year-old kid, and a 68-year-old mother.
What Destruction Did Hai Phong and Quang Ninh Experience?
Yagi hit Hai Phong and Quang Ninh provinces with winds up to 203 km/h (126 mph). The storm raised roofs and uprooted trees, causing significant power disruptions, including in Hanoi. Videos going viral online show automobile drivers slowing down to shield motorcycle riders trapped in strong gusts.
Four persons perished in Quang Ninh province, and one person died in Hai Duong, close to Hanoi, according to state media. One tragic event happened in Phu Tho province when a bridge collapsed, sending two motorbikes and ten automobiles into the Red River. At least three persons have been rescued, according to Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc; 13 are still missing. The scope of casualties resulting from the bridge collapse is unknown.
What Was the Extent of Chaos and Damage in Hai Phong?
The storm brought extreme flooding to Hai Phong, with numerous places buried under half a meter (1.6 feet). Power wires and electrical poles were damaged, and metal roof sheets and business sign boards were visible flying over the city. Parts of Hai Phong, home to several international enterprises, suffered power disruptions. Four northern Vietnam airports stopped operations for much of the day.
Local people reported severe boat damage at the Hai Au boat lock on Tuan Chau Island, north of Hai Phong. At least 23 vessels sank or were substantially damaged. Saying, “The wind was pushing from our back, with so much pressure that no boat could stand,” Sailor Pham Van Thanh detailed the anarchy—the first one sunk, one after the other.
How Have Authorities Responded to the Crisis?
Authorities have warned citizens to stay indoors and evacuated about 50,000 residents of Vietnamese coastal communities. Twelve northern provinces’ schools, including Hanoi, are temporarily shuttered. Owner of a restaurant near HaLong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Duong The Hung, said of the harm done to his establishment, “The ceiling has collapsed. Maintenance is needed on the metal roof. The harm is significant.”
What Impact Did the Typhoon Have on Neighboring Regions?
Before arriving in Vietnam, Typhoon Yagi wrecked the Philippines and the Chinese island of Hainan, also known as China’s Hawaii. In the Philippines, the storm claimed at least 24 lives and seriously injured scores more. China evacuated over 400,000 people from Hainan, stopped schools, and canceled railroads, boats, and aircraft. Local media claimed significant agricultural damage and extensive power disruptions, impacting around 830,000 homes.
How Are Climate Change and Intensifying Storms Connected?
Compared to a Category 5 storm, a super typhoon is caused by climate change, which causes typhoons and hurricanes to get stronger, more frequent, and linger over land for longer lengths of time. While a warmer atmosphere contains more moisture, resulting in more intense rainfall, warmer ocean waters help to contribute to the increased energy of storms, hence driving more incredible wind speeds.
