HANOI: Tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes on Tuesday as catastrophic floods inundated northern Vietnam following the landfall of Typhoon Yagi, and the death toll climbed to 127.
The storm, packing winds exceeding 149 kilometers per hour (92 miles per hour) and relentless rainfall, has led to the evacuation of 59,000 residents.
Typhoon Yagi, described by locals as a once-in-a-lifetime event, has caused unprecedented flooding. The waters have inundated nearly 18,000 homes in Yen Bai province alone. The situation in Hanoi has reached alarming levels, with floodwaters hitting heights not seen since 2008, and more rainfall is forecasted for the historic city center.
Phan Thi Tuyet, 50, a resident near the swollen Red River in Hanoi, expressed her devastation as she was evacuated by boat. “I have lost everything, all gone,” she told AFP, clutching her two dogs. “I had to come to higher ground to save our lives. We could not bring any of the furniture with us. Everything is under water now.”
READ ALSO: KSrelief Holds Cardiac Volunteer Program in Yemen
The impact of Typhoon Yagi has been severe. The storm has downed bridges, torn roofs from buildings, damaged factories, and triggered extensive flooding and landslides. Rescue operations are ongoing, with at least 64 people reported missing. The disaster has also left at least 752 people injured.
Hanoi has been particularly hard hit, with more than 25,000 trees uprooted and large trunks blocking key roads, leading to significant traffic disruptions. The north of Vietnam, a densely populated area and a crucial manufacturing hub, has been inundated with record floodwaters in cities like Yen Bai.
In response to the crisis, authorities have issued flood and landslide warnings for 401 communes across 18 northern provinces. One-story homes in parts of Thai Nguyen and Yen Bai were almost completely submerged, with residents taking refuge on rooftops as they awaited rescue.
A major bridge over the Red River in Hanoi has been closed to heavy vehicles, and a train line across Long Bien bridge has been suspended due to rising water levels. The Phong Chau bridge in northern Phu Tho province collapsed on Monday, with half of the 375-meter bridge gone. Five people were rescued from the bridge, but eight others remain missing.
