HANOI, Vietnam : The death toll from Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam has climbed to 254, according to the state disaster management agency, as rescue workers continue to recover bodies from areas ravaged by landslides and flash floods. The storm, which made landfall last Saturday on Vietnam’s northeastern coast, is the strongest to hit Asia this year.
More than 820 people have been injured, and 82 remain missing. As floodwaters from the swollen Red River in Hanoi slowly recede, many neighborhoods are still submerged, and experts warn that northern regions will continue to face challenges in the coming days.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that hundreds of thousands of children have been displaced, losing access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. Approximately 2 million children are unable to attend school due to damaged infrastructure, power shortages, and a lack of water, disrupting education and essential school feeding programs.
In the hard-hit Lao Cai province, a flash flood swept away the hamlet of Lang Nu, leaving 48 people dead and 39 missing. Rescue efforts are hindered by severely damaged roads, preventing heavy equipment from reaching the area. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has vowed to continue the search for those still missing.
Cao Bang province, further north, saw a deadly landslide push a bus, car, and several motorcycles into a river, resulting in 21 confirmed deaths, with ten people still unaccounted for.
The storm’s impact extends beyond Vietnam, affecting neighboring countries including Thailand, where ten people have died due to flooding and landslides. In Myanmar, at least 33 fatalities have been reported, and 187 relief camps have been established for nearly 240,000 flood victims.
International aid has started to arrive in Vietnam, with significant contributions from Australia, South Korea, and the United States. However, the typhoon has caused severe disruptions in northern Vietnam, impacting key manufacturing hubs in Haiphong, where damage to factories could affect global supply chains in the coming weeks.
Authorities and aid organizations are closely monitoring the ongoing crisis, with heavy rain forecasted to continue, further complicating rescue and recovery efforts.