Typhoon Yagi’s Rampage: Death Toll in Vietnam Rises to 59, Devastating Effects Unfold

The death toll in Vietnam caused by Typhoon Yagi surged to 59, as confirmed by state media on Monday. Business leaders expressed concerns over the devastating impact of the storm on the country’s crucial manufacturing sector. Typhoon Yagi, labeled by meteorologists as the most intense typhoon to strike northern Vietnam in three decades, resulted in the collapse of bridges, destruction of buildings, and disruption of factories with wind speeds exceeding 149 km (92 miles) per hour upon landfall on Saturday.

The widespread power outages led to significant disruptions in the operations of factories in northern Vietnam, a key production center for global tech giants like Samsung and Foxconn. Additionally, the northern region grappled with severe flooding, submerging several communities partially. The state media reported that the typhoon claimed the lives of 59 individuals in Vietnam, with 44 fatalities attributed to landslides and flash floods. The initial death toll was reported at 21, while 247 people were reported to have sustained injuries.

Nguyen Hoang Hiep, the deputy minister of agriculture and rural development, emphasized the gravity of the flooding situation and issued directives for the controlled release of water from reservoirs to mitigate the impact. He urged local authorities to proactively provide support and ensure the safety of residents and assets. In addition to the casualties in Vietnam, 24 people lost their lives as Typhoon Yagi swept through southern China and the Philippines before hitting Vietnam.

On Monday, approximately 1.5 million individuals remained without electricity in Vietnam, and a significant bridge spanning the swollen Red River in the northern Phu Tho province collapsed. Images circulated by state media depicted a substantial section of the 375-meter Phong Chau bridge washed away. Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc estimated that 13 individuals were unaccounted for following the bridge collapse, as reported by the state news site VNExpress. He noted that ten vehicles and two motorbikes were on the bridge at the time of the incident.