HANOI: The death toll from Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam has surged to 59, according to state media reports on Monday. The typhoon, described by meteorologists as the most powerful to strike northern Vietnam in 30 years, made landfall on Saturday with winds exceeding 149 kilometers per hour. The storm has wreaked havoc across the region, downing bridges, ripping roofs from buildings, and damaging factories.
The storm has significantly impacted the manufacturing sector, particularly in northern Vietnam, a key production hub for global tech giants like Samsung and Foxconn. Power outages have disrupted operations at these facilities, compounding the crisis.
On Monday, northern Vietnam also faced severe flooding, with several areas partially submerged. The typhoon has resulted in 59 fatalities in Vietnam, including 44 from landslides and flash floods, and injured 247 people. Power outages affected around 5.7 million customers over the weekend.
Authorities are addressing the flooding by releasing water from reservoirs and urging local communities to ensure safety. The disaster has also caused infrastructure damage, including the collapse of the 375-meter Phong Chau bridge in Phu Tho province, which left 13 people missing and several vehicles destroyed.
The typhoon, which also affected southern China and the Philippines, has had a profound impact on local businesses. Hong Sun, chairman of the Korean Chamber of Business in Vietnam, described the storm as a “disaster” for businesses, particularly in Haiphong, a port city severely impacted by Yagi. Susumu Yoshida from the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported that the storm caused significant damage to electronics companies, including roof collapses and flooding.
In Hoa Binh province, a family of four perished when a hillside collapsed onto their home due to heavy rain. Additionally, a landslide in the Hoang Lien Son mountains resulted in the deaths of six people, including a newborn and a one-year-old child.
