Thousands of people were urgently evacuated from severe floods on Tuesday following the passage of Typhoon Yagi in northern Vietnam. The typhoon claimed the lives of 63 individuals and left 40 others missing.
Yagi made landfall on Saturday with wind speeds exceeding 149 kilometers (92 miles) per hour, making it the strongest typhoon to hit northern Vietnam in three decades as confirmed by meteorologists.
The storm caused damage to infrastructure, including downed bridges, damaged buildings, and triggered flooding and landslides across the region.
The densely populated northern region, which is a key manufacturing hub for global technology companies such as Samsung, is now facing significant flooding, with many communities submerged in water.
In some areas of Thai Nguyen and Yen Bai cities, one-story homes were almost completely underwater, with residents seeking refuge on rooftops.
Rescue operations are underway to assist vulnerable populations, including elderly individuals and children, who are trapped by floodwaters. Families of those affected have been using social media to seek help and essential supplies.
In Hanoi, communities along the Red River have been affected by rising water levels, forcing residents to evacuate their homes.
Phan Thi Tuyet, 50, a resident living near the river, expressed her shock at the unprecedented flooding, stating that she had lost all her possessions to the water.
In addition to the fatalities and missing individuals, at least 752 people have been injured in the flooding and landslides, according to officials from the Ministry of Agriculture.
– Bridge collapse –
Authorities in central Hanoi took precautionary measures on Tuesday, halting heavy vehicle traffic on a major bridge over the Red River and suspending train services on Long Bien bridge due to rising water levels.
This action was prompted by the collapse of a bridge in northern Phu Tho province, where half of the Phong Chau bridge, measuring 375 meters, was swept away by the floodwaters.
While five individuals were rescued from the collapsing bridge, eight others remained missing as of Tuesday.
Forecasters have issued warnings for central Hanoi, anticipating further flooding later in the day.
The typhoon has also caused power outages and disruptions to factories in northern Vietnam, impacting production for global tech giants like Samsung and Foxconn.
An additional 24 individuals lost their lives as Typhoon Yagi traversed through southern China and the Philippines before reaching Vietnam.
According to a study published in July, typhoons in the region are forming closer to the coast, intensifying more rapidly, and lingering over land longer due to the effects of climate change.
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