Following the destructive path of Typhoon Yagi, Vietnam is reeling from the aftermath with nearly 200 reported deaths and over 125 individuals still missing. The impact of flash floods and landslides has taken a heavy toll on the country, as per state media reports.
The latest figures from Vietnam's VNExpress newspaper indicate that 197 people have lost their lives, with 128 individuals still unaccounted for, while more than 800 have sustained injuries.
In the capital city of Hanoi, floodwaters from the Red River have started to recede slightly, but numerous areas remain submerged. In the Tay Ho district, residents were seen navigating through knee-high muddy waters, some even wearing helmets after abandoning their vehicles along the flooded streets.
Boats became a common sight as people paddled through the inundated roads, with debris floating by. Pedestrians were forced to hike up their shorts to avoid getting soaked by passing vehicles.
Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Vietnam in decades, made landfall with winds reaching up to 149 kph (92 mph) on Saturday. Despite weakening, heavy rainfall persisted, keeping river levels alarmingly high.
The flooding in Hanoi has been described as the worst in twenty years, prompting widespread evacuations. Tragedy struck earlier in the week when a flash flood wiped out the entire village of Lang Nu in Lao Cai province, leaving 53 villagers missing and 42 confirmed dead.
Rescue efforts have been ongoing, particularly in the northwestern Lao Cai province, where most casualties have occurred due to floods and landslides. The collapse of a bridge in Phu Tho province and a bus being swept away in Cao Bang province resulted in dozens of fatalities.
Experts attribute the intensification of storms like Typhoon Yagi to climate change, citing warmer ocean temperatures as a contributing factor that fuels these extreme weather events with stronger winds and heavier rainfall.
The situation remains dire in Vietnam as the nation grapples with the widespread devastation caused by Typhoon Yagi and the subsequent flooding and landslides.
