The devastating aftermath of Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam has left a trail of destruction, with the death toll rising to 152, according to government estimates. The country’s largest river, the Red River, has reached its highest level in two decades, causing widespread flooding in the streets of Hanoi.
By Wednesday, flood waters from the swollen river had reached a meter high in parts of the capital, forcing residents to navigate their neighborhoods by boat. Thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying areas, and 10 of Hanoi’s 30 administrative districts are on “flood alert”, state media reported.
Floods and landslides across northern Vietnam have been the main causes of death from the typhoon, with one resident describing it as the worst flood they have ever seen. Yagi, initially categorized as a super typhoon, has continued to wreak havoc in Vietnam since making landfall on Saturday, being described as Asia’s most powerful typhoon this year.
An entire village in the northern Lao Cai province was swept away amid flash floods, with at least 25 confirmed dead and hundreds still missing. Authorities are closely monitoring a hydropower plant in the northwestern Yen Bai province, as concerns rise over the dam’s stability due to a huge inflow of water into the reservoir.
Yagi has caused significant damage to infrastructure and factories in the north, collapsing a busy bridge and leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Before hitting Vietnam, the typhoon claimed 24 lives across southern China and the Philippines.
As scientists warn of the potential impact of climate change on typhoons, the devastation caused by Yagi serves as a stark reminder of the increasing threat posed by extreme weather events. The resilience and recovery efforts of the affected communities will be crucial in the days ahead.
