Typhoon Yagi Strikes Vietnam, Poses Threat to Hanoi – Reuters

By Khanh Vu and Phuong Nguyen

HANOI (Reuters) – The death toll in Vietnam from this year’s most devastating storm in Asia has reached 127, with torrential rains triggering catastrophic floods and landslides. Homes have been buried, a bridge has been swept away, and the capital city, Hanoi, is now under threat.

In several northern provinces, including areas on the outskirts of Hanoi, residents have found themselves wading through knee-deep water as brown torrents cascade down pedestrian steps.

The disaster management agency reported on Tuesday that at least 127 people have died due to landslides and flash floods, with 54 others reported missing. Additionally, 764 individuals have sustained injuries.

The typhoon struck Vietnam’s northeastern coast on Saturday, wreaking havoc across industrial and residential zones and bringing heavy rainfall that caused further floods and landslides. The storm had previously impacted the Philippines and the southern Chinese island of Hainan.

"I have to leave everything behind as the water is rising too fast," said Nguyen Thi Tham, a 60-year-old resident from a flood-prone area near the Red River in Hanoi. She was only able to take her dog with her as she evacuated.

Early on Tuesday, she was one of many residents who had to be rescued by boat to safer shelters. The exact number of evacuees in Hanoi remains uncertain.

Several rivers in northern Vietnam have reached critical flood levels, inundating villages and residential areas, according to the disaster agency and state media. A 30-year-old bridge over the Red River in Phu Tho province collapsed on Monday, resulting in eight people being reported missing.

In response, authorities imposed traffic bans or limitations on other bridges across the river, including the Chuong Duong Bridge, one of the largest in Hanoi. "Water levels on the Red River are rising rapidly," stated the government.

Officials using loudspeakers previously employed for broadcasting propaganda urged residents in the Long Bien district of Hanoi to remain alert for potential flooding and to prepare for evacuation.

Other northern regions, including industrial centers Bac Giang and Thai Nguyen, are also experiencing severe flooding. The situation concerning major suppliers, such as Samsung and Foxconn, operating in these areas remains unclear.

Evacuations are taking place in flood-prone areas of Bac Giang province as well, where the typhoon and subsequent floods have caused an estimated 300 billion dong ($12.1 million) in damages. Over 4,600 soldiers have been deployed in the province to assist with evacuations and support flood victims.

Vietnam’s foreign ministry has requested China to provide advance notice before releasing water from upstream dams.

Lao Cai province has reported the highest number of casualties, with 19 fatalities and 36 individuals missing, primarily due to landslides.

The government has not yet provided a comprehensive estimate of the total damage caused by the typhoon. However, residents in coastal cities such as Haiphong and Quang Ninh, where the storm first made landfall, have reported devastating losses.

Floodwaters have also submerged 162,828 hectares and impacted nearly 50,000 homes in northern Vietnam, according to official reports.