Following a devastating flash flood that swept away an entire hamlet in northern Vietnam, killing about 16 people, the death toll for Typhoon Yagi has risen to 141, with dozens still missing. Yagi, which has also caused significant damage in the Philippines and China, made landfall in Vietnam on Saturday. Although it has since weakened, the typhoon continues to bring heavy rain, flooding, and landslides.
Water gushing down a mountain in Lao Cai province on Tuesday buried the hamlet of Lang Nu, home to 35 families, under mud and debris. About a dozen people survived, and rescuers have recovered 16 bodies while continuing the search for around 40 others.
Yagi struck with winds of over 149 kmph, making it the most powerful typhoon to hit northern Vietnam in 30 years. Thousands were stranded on rooftops in some northern provinces, while others posted pleas for help on social media.
The storm has downed bridges, destroyed buildings, damaged factories, and caused a power outage affecting over 1.5 million people. Northern Vietnam, a densely populated area and major manufacturing hub for global tech firms, has been severely impacted.
A dashcam captured the collapse of the Phong Chau bridge over the engorged Red River in Phu Tho province on Monday, causing several vehicles to plunge into the river. Although the storm has weakened into a tropical depression, authorities warn that Yagi will continue to create disruptions as it moves westwards.
On Tuesday, authorities stopped heavy vehicles from crossing a major bridge over the Red River in central Hanoi. Operations on a train line across Long Bien bridge were also suspended due to rising water levels.
Houses Submerged
In Thai Nguyen and Yen Bai cities, one-storey houses were almost completely submerged early Tuesday, forcing residents to climb onto their roofs as they waited for help. Communities along the swollen and fast-moving Red River in Hanoi were also partially underwater, prompting evacuations by boat.
Phan Thi Tuyet, 50, who lives near the river, shared her distress, saying, “I have lost everything, all gone.”
