Super typhoon Yagi, floods cause at least 21 deaths in northern Vietnam

Yagi that made landfall in northern Vietnam on Saturday and floods after the super typhoon have claimed at least 21 lives and left nearly 230 others injured.

The figure was an update by the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as of 6 p.m. Sunday.

Of the dead, six were in Lao Cai province, five in Quang Ninh province - home to UNESCO heritage site Ha Long Bay, two in its neighboring Hai Phong city, one in Hai Duong, one in Hanoi, four in Hoa Binh, one in Yen Bai, one in Lang Son, and one soldier.

Three others were reportedly missing. Over 8,000 houses were damaged by powerful gales.

According to a report released at 3:30 p.m. Sunday by authorities of Sa Pa town, Lao Cai province, at around 1 p.m. Sunday in Muong Hoa commune, a landslide buried four households. Initial statistics showed that the four households have 26 people, of these four were found dead.

The storm wreaked havoc across the northern coast, sweeping away many vessels in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong. Extensive power outages were reported in Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh and Hai Duong provinces. Many houses, stores, offices and schools had their roofs blown off or were damaged.

Chairing a meeting to overcome the super typhoon’s consequences on Sunday morning, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said super typhoon Yagi and its circulation has left a wide range of impact on 26 localities from the northern region to the central province of Thanh Hoa.

Super typhoon Yagi made landfall in Quang Ninh at around 1 p.m. on Saturday, packing maximum wind speeds of 166 kph. Rainfall levels in northeastern Vietnam reached up to 215 mm in certain areas. This was the most powerful storm in Asia this year and in northern Vietnam in decades.

After sweeping Hanoi, the typhoon continued to cause damage in northern provinces like Bac Ninh, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Son La, and Lang Son before weakening into a tropical depression.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, after the typhoon weakened into a tropical depression, heavy rain is predicted to continue on Sunday and Monday in the entire plains, midlands and mountainous areas of the north, with an average 24-hour rainfall of up to 100-150 mm, and in some places over 200 mm.

There is a high risk of flooding on rivers and streams and flash floods and landslides in some localities. Urban areas still faces a high risk of flooding.

Eighteen northern provinces have been warned of flash floods and landslides.

Meteorological experts warn that flash floods and landslides can have negative impacts on the environment, threaten people's lives, cause local traffic jams, affect the movement of vehicles and damage production and socio-economic activities.

Affected localities need to regularly monitor real-time warnings of areas at risk of flash floods and landslides updated online on the website of the General Department of Hydrometeorology at https://luquetsatlo.nchmf.gov.vn and in separate bulletins, Vietnam News Agency reported.