Typhoon Yagi Strikes Vietnam, Leaving at Least 4 Dead

Vietnam has been hit hard by Typhoon Yagi, which made landfall on Saturday afternoon, causing devastation in the northern regions. Reports indicate that at least four lives have been lost and 78 others have sustained injuries due to the violent weather.

Characterized as “one of the most powerful typhoons in the region over the past decade,” Yagi initially wreaked havoc in China’s Hainan province, where it left three people dead and injured around a hundred. As it transitioned to Vietnam, the typhoon reached wind speeds of up to 149 kilometers per hour (92 miles per hour), particularly affecting the coastal provinces of Quang Ninh and Haiphong, as per state media updates.

In Hanoi, where the winds caused significant destruction, local reports indicated that a woman was killed when a tree fell. Quang Ninh, famous for its UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay, witnessed the cancellation of numerous cruise operations ahead of the storm’s arrival. Meanwhile, Haiphong, known for its industrial activities and home to significant manufacturers such as VinFast and Pegatron, braced for a challenging impact.

The typhoon has also caused extensive power outages across large areas of Quang Ninh and Thai Binh provinces. To mitigate the risks, government authorities issued several alerts and evacuated residents in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas. Airports in Hanoi and Haiphong were temporarily closed as a precautionary measure.

In Hanoi, the city authorities took preventive actions by pruning trees to reduce the chances of them toppling over. Nevertheless, the impact was still felt, as strong winds uprooted trees and toppled billboards in various northern cities. Reports noted that many boats docked in the area were swept out to sea due to the rough conditions.

Businesswoman Bao Ngoc Cao, 24, from Hanoi, expressed her concerns, stating she planned to stay indoors with her family to ensure their safety. Reflecting on past storms, she noted that while storms generally weaken before reaching the capital, the strength of Typhoon Yagi was reminiscent of the last major typhoon that struck Vietnam in 2013.

Before making its landfall in Vietnam, Yagi severely impacted the Chinese city of Wenchang in Hainan province, with winds reaching about 245 kilometers per hour (152 miles per hour). The typhoon has affected over 1.2 million people in Hainan province alone, prompting the relocation of approximately 420,000 residents prior to the storm’s arrival. Furthermore, additional evacuations in Guangdong province allowed another half a million people to escape the worst of the storm.

As the typhoon eased its grip on Hainan and moved further away, meteorological officials in Haikou downgraded their typhoon alert from red to orange; however, the effects of Yagi were still being felt deeply across the region. In Hong Kong, the storm forced over 270 individuals to seek refuge in temporary government shelters, leading to the cancellation of over 100 flights while heavy rains and strong winds contributed to widespread disruption.

Yagi’s journey began in the northwestern Philippines, where it tragically left at least 20 dead and 26 missing due to landslides and extensive flooding. More than 2.3 million individuals were affected across northern and central provinces, with over 82,200 people displaced. The heavy rains resulted in the suspension of work, classes, and various transportation services, particularly in metropolitan Manila.

The United Nations has noted the relationship between warm ocean waters and the frequency of storms, highlighting that climate change is exacerbating the intensity of typhoons, especially in Southeast Asia. Historical context reveals that Typhoon Damrey, which struck Vietnam in 2017, resulted in at least 15 fatalities and caused substantial destruction to homes and agriculture in affected areas.

As Vietnam grapples with the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, the challenges brought on by increasingly severe weather patterns underscore the urgent need for preparedness and resilience in the face of natural disasters.