At least 58 people have been murdered and forty others have gone missing in northern Vietnam as a result of Typhoon Yagi and the landslides and floods that it caused, according to the disaster management department, which announced the news on Tuesday.
The devastating impact of Typhoon Yagi has left communities in northern Vietnam reeling, with rescue efforts hampered by ongoing severe weather conditions. Local authorities have mobilized emergency response teams, including military personnel and volunteers, to assist in search and rescue operations. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, as many areas remain inaccessible due to flooded roads and damaged infrastructure.
According to the agency's report, the majority of the casualties were killed in landslides and flash floods. The organization also stated that around 750 people have been injured as a result of the disaster.
The typhoon made landfall on the northeastern coast of Vietnam on Saturday, bringing with it heavy rains that triggered deadly floods and landslides. It also caused a broad swath of industrial and residential areas to be destroyed.
Meteorologists have warned that the region may face continued rainfall in the coming days, potentially exacerbating the already dire situation. Climate experts are pointing to this event as another example of the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, likely influenced by global climate change. The Vietnamese government has pledged to enhance its disaster preparedness and response capabilities in light of these growing challenges.
The government agency and official media have reported that several rivers in the northern region of Vietnam have reached dangerously high levels, causing villages and residential areas to become submerged.
The economic impact of Typhoon Yagi is expected to be significant, with early estimates suggesting billions of dollars in damages to agriculture, infrastructure, and industry. Many factories in the affected areas have been forced to suspend operations, potentially disrupting global supply chains. International aid organizations are mobilizing resources to support the Vietnamese government's relief efforts, with neighboring countries also offering assistance.
The provincial People's Committee issued a statement on Monday stating that eight people were missing after the collapse of a bridge that was thirty years old and crossed the Red River in the province of Phu Tho, which is located in the countryside.
According to reports from state media, the authorities have subsequently restricted or prohibited traffic on several bridges that span the river, including the Chuong Duong Bridge in Hanoi.
As the immediate crisis response continues, questions are being raised about long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. The Vietnamese government is facing calls to invest in more resilient infrastructure and improved early warning systems to better protect vulnerable communities from future natural disasters. Environmental groups are also urging policymakers to address the root causes of climate change to mitigate the risk of similar catastrophes in the future.
