Super Typhoon Yagi, which struck northern Vietnam over the weekend, has left a trail of destruction. According to the Vietnamese Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, the death toll has now reached 14, with 13 people reported missing. The authorities have described Yagi as one of the most powerful typhoons to hit the region in the past decade.
The storm, which made landfall on Saturday afternoon with wind speeds of up to 149 kilometers per hour, caused extensive damage across the northern provinces of Quang Ninh and Haiphong. It has left a total of 187 people injured, primarily due to landslides and rain-related incidents.
In response to the storm, approximately 50,000 people were evacuated from coastal towns. Authorities are advising residents to stay indoors as the situation continues to unfold. Although Yagi has weakened to a tropical depression, it is expected to bring heavy rainfall to northern provinces in both Vietnam and Laos until 10 September.
The aftermath of the typhoon has been severe. Over 3,400 houses have been damaged, and thousands of acres of farmland have been destroyed. Widespread blackouts have occurred due to the destruction of numerous transformers and transmission lines. In Quang Ninh, 25 unmanned fishing boats were sunk by high waves and strong winds, and at least 13 fishermen are missing after their vessels broke anchor and drifted away.
Before reaching Vietnam, Yagi caused considerable destruction in southern China and the Philippines, resulting in at least 24 deaths and injuring dozens more. Climate scientists attribute the intensification of tropical storms to increasingly warmer oceans.
In China, Yagi resulted in two fatalities and 92 injuries in Hainan province before moving on to Guangdong. The storm caused major disruptions, halting maritime and air transportation. Lastly, schools in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Yangjiang suspended classes and universities delaying the start of the academic year.
