Vietnamese state media has reported that following devastation caused by Typhoon Yagi, a bridge has collapsed and a bus has been swept away in the flood water.
The death toll has increased to at least 59 people in the aftermath of the storm.
Saturday Sees Asia’s Most Powerful Storm of 2024 Make Landfall
The Indo-Pacific Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre said that Typhoon Yagi made landfall in northern Vietnam on Saturday with winds of up to 126-mph.
Typhoon Yagi made history as the strongest storm to hit Northern Vietnam on record.
Damage and Devastation In Its Wake
Nine people died as the storm made landfall and that number has now increased to at least 59, with more people still missing and continuing extreme weather.
As a consequence of the storm, Vietnamese media has reported major floods and landslides as well as water levels in rivers being dangerously high.
Passenger Bus Carrying 20 People Has Been Swept Away
A passenger bus in the mountainous Cao Bang province was affected by a stream which flooded due to a landslide.
The bus was swept into the rapid water and swept away. Rescue workers were deployed but the mountainous landscape and landslides blocked their path.
Bridge Collapses Plunging Cars Into Fast Moving River
In the northern province of Phu Tho a bridge collapsed on Monday morning with 10 cars and 2 scooters plunging into a fast moving river.
According to local media, at least 3 people were rescued but 13 were missing in the incident.
“I felt like I was drowned to the bottom of the river”
Pham Truong Son was riding his motorcycle across the bridge when he said he heard a loud noise. The 50-year-old said before he knew what was happening, he was falling into the river.
Son told local news “I felt like I was drowned to the bottom of the river.” He added that he only survived the ordeal by holding on to a drifting banana tree to stay afloat before he was able to be rescued.
Businesses Impacted As They Are Yet To Resume Operations
Factories and export-focussed industries in the northern industrial hubs are yet to reopen because of the extensive damage to their factories.
Reports say that roofs of several factories have been blown off by the strong winds and water has seeped into other buildings damaging goods and equipment. Some are warning that it could take at least a month until operations are able to resume.
Government Support Package Approved To Save City Recovering
Authorities are still assessing the damage of Haiphong and Quang Ninh – the two industrial hubs struggling in the aftermath.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited port city Haiphong and pledged an aid package of over $4 million dollars. Apple suppliers Pegatrong and USI are both housed in these areas.
Extensive Damage Across Asia
Before landing in Vietnam Typhoon Yagi also caused the deaths of at least 20 people in the Philippines and at least 4 deaths in China.
Chinese authorities said infrastructure losses across Hainan Island province could amount to over $100 million dollars.
Is More Destruction On The Horizon?
Benjamin Horton, Director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore said that storms will get stronger due to climate change.
Warmer oceans provide more energy to “fuel the storms”. This will increase wind speeds and heavier rainfall.
