Vietnam’s Typhoon Yagi Death Toll Exceeds 250, Many Still Missing – Reuters

By Khanh Vu

HANOI – The death toll in Vietnam from Typhoon Yagi, along with the landslides and flash floods it caused, has climbed to 254, according to authorities. As floodwaters begin to recede, search efforts continue.

Vietnam is experiencing the aftermath of the strongest storm to hit Asia this year, which struck its northeastern coastline on Saturday.

Over 820 individuals have sustained injuries, and 82 people remain unaccounted for, as reported by the state disaster management agency. Efforts are ongoing to locate 41 individuals missing since a flash flood swept away all 37 homes in Nu Village, located in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, early Tuesday. So far, 46 residents from the village have been confirmed deceased.

Meanwhile, in another village within Lao Cai, 115 people who were initially reported as missing returned safely after seeking refuge on a mountain for two days, cut off from electricity and telecommunications. They constructed makeshift tents from bamboo and tarpaulins upon realizing their homes were at risk from landslides.

Village chief Vang Seo Chu shared, “We could only bring some rice and food with us, and when we ran out, we foraged for wild bamboo shoots to eat.”

The U.N. children’s agency has reported that hundreds of thousands of children have lost their homes and are facing a lack of clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. Approximately 2 million children are currently without access to education, psychosocial support, and school feeding programs due to the damage inflicted on schools and interruptions in power and water supply. The actual toll on schools and students in the hardest-hit provinces is expected to be considerably higher.

UNICEF estimates an immediate need of $15 million to meet the urgent needs of affected children and their families.

In Hanoi, floodwaters on the Red River have begun to recede, allowing some traffic to resume on certain bridges, as reported by the government.

Insurance companies in Vietnam have received claims totaling 7 trillion dong (approximately $285.36 million) for the damages caused by the typhoon, floods, and landslides, according to the finance ministry.