Deadly Typhoon Yagi Wreaks Havoc in Northern Vietnam, Leaving Bridges, Homes Destroyed

• Sep 09, 2024

A powerful typhoon raging through northern Vietnam has caused widespread destruction, leaving at least 59 people dead, according to state media reports. Typhoon Yagi, which made landfall in Vietnam on Saturday, has been described as Asia's most powerful storm this year.

The typhoon, which brought strong winds of up to 203 km/h (126 mph), has destroyed bridges, homes, and disrupted businesses across the region. In Cao Bang province, a passenger bus carrying 20 people was swept into a flooded stream by a landslide, and rescue efforts were hampered by blocked roads.

One of the most devastating incidents was the collapse of the Phong Chau bridge in Phu Tho province. The 375-meter (1,230-foot) bridge, which was carrying 10 cars and two scooters, plunged into the Red River. While at least three people have been rescued, 13 are still missing, and it remains unclear if there have been any fatalities.

Pham Truong Son, a 50-year-old man who was driving on the bridge when it collapsed, recounted his harrowing experience. "I felt like I was drowned to the bottom of the river," he said, adding that he managed to swim and hold on to a drifting banana tree before being rescued.

The weather agency has warned of more floods and landslides, with rainfall ranging between 208mm and 433mm (8.2 inches to 17 inches) in several parts of the region over the past 24 hours. The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has stated that "floods and landslides are damaging the environment and threatening people's lives."

In the port city of Hai Phong, several areas were under half a meter (1.6 feet) of water, and there was no electricity. At the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay, the disaster management authority reported that 30 vessels had sunk after being pounded by strong wind and waves.

The typhoon has also caused significant damage to infrastructure and agriculture, with nearly 3,300 houses and more than 120,000 hectares (296,500 acres) of crops destroyed in the north of the country.

As the region continues to grapple with the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, the focus remains on rescue and recovery efforts, as well as mitigating the ongoing threats of floods and landslides. The devastation caused by this powerful storm serves as a sobering reminder of the immense challenges faced by communities in the face of extreme weather events.