Over the weekend, Vietnam faced the wrath of Typhoon Yagi, resulting in a tragic toll of at least 14 fatalities and 176 injuries, as reported by state media. The typhoon, described as one of the most powerful to hit the region in the last decade, caused widespread destruction in the country's northern provinces.
With wind speeds reaching up to 149 kilometers per hour, Typhoon Yagi made landfall in the coastal provinces of Quang Ninh and Haiphong, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The aftermath of the storm saw more than 3 million people without electricity, significant damage to agricultural land, and the closure of four airports due to the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
Despite gradually weakening into a tropical depression, the meteorological department of Vietnam issued warnings of heavy rainfall in northern and central provinces, raising concerns about potential floods, flash floods, and landslides in vulnerable areas.
In the capital city of Hanoi, municipal workers, along with army and police forces, were engaged in clearing operations to remove debris such as uprooted trees, fallen billboards, and damaged infrastructure. The assessment of buildings affected by the typhoon was also underway to determine the extent of the damage.
Prior to reaching Vietnam, Typhoon Yagi had already caused significant devastation in the Philippines and China, claiming lives and causing injuries. Experts attribute the increasing intensity of storms like Yagi to climate change, citing warmer ocean waters as a key factor in fueling these extreme weather events.
The impact of Typhoon Yagi serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of coastal regions to the destructive forces of nature and underscores the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of such natural disasters.
