64 Dead, Hundreds Injured as Super Typhoon Yagi Sweeps Vietnam

SEAToday.com, Hanoi - The death toll in Vietnam rose to at least 64 people on Monday (9/9) as super typhoon Yagi swept the country, causing widespread floods and landslides. Hundreds of others were injured.

State media reported that nine people died on Saturday (9/7) when the storm made landfall before weakening into a tropical depression. The remaining fatalities occurred during the subsequent floods and landslides on Sunday and Monday.

Water levels of several northern Vietnamese rivers reached “dangerously high” levels. A landslide in mountainous Cao Bang province on Monday swept a bus into a flooded stream. On the same day, a bridge over Phu Tho's Red River collapsed, damaging cars, trucks,and motorbikes.

The typhoon also damaged numerous factories in Haiphong and Quang Ninh provinces. Initial estimates suggest that nearly 100 enterprises were affected, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has approved a 4.62 million US dollar package to help the port city recover.

Yagi, the most powerful typhoon to hit northern Vietnam in 30 years, downed bridges, damaged factories after making landfall on Saturday carrying winds in excess of 149kmh.

Meanwhile, in Hanoi, people living along the banks of the overflowing and fast-flowing Red River were evacuated by boat. Downtown Hoan Kiem District was forced to relocate 460 people on Tuesday (9/10).