Parts of Hanoi remain flooded as landslides hit northern Vietnam
Several districts in Hanoi remained inundated on Thursday, with the national weather agency predicting minimal changes in the water levels of the Red River over the next 24 hours. The deluge follows Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to hit Asia this year, which made landfall on Saturday.
The typhoon’s impact has been devastating, with at least 197 fatalities reported and 128 people still missing, according to Vietnam’s disaster management agency. Approximately 800 individuals have been injured. Floodwaters have reached levels not seen in two decades, submerging riverside and low-lying areas, eroding dykes, and putting parts of Hanoi and other northern provinces at risk.
In response to the rising waters, the city evacuated thousands from vulnerable areas. “There’s a lot of heartbreak in the city and there was a lot of concern going into the evening,” said Skye Maconachie, co-CEO of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. “Many people who barely had anything have lost everything.”
Recovery efforts are expected to be extensive, focusing on restoring livelihoods and ensuring displaced individuals find safe and clean housing.
North of Hanoi, landslides and severe flooding continue to impact various regions. In Thai Nguyen province, where Samsung Electronics’ major smartphone manufacturing plant is located, floodwaters have receded in some areas, allowing cleanup operations to begin. However, local resident Hoang Van Ty expressed disbelief at the extent of the flooding, which submerged his home and damaged his belongings.
In Lao Cai province, search and rescue operations are underway for 55 people missing after a flash flood swept through Nu Village on Tuesday. The disaster claimed 46 lives and injured 17 others, prompting the mobilization of 300 soldiers and 359 local officials to assist in the search efforts.
The typhoon has also devastated agricultural lands, flooding over 200,000 hectares of rice and cash crop fields across northern Vietnam. Additionally, power supplies have been disrupted, and several factories in Haiphong and Quang Ninh provinces have had their roofs blown off, leading to production halts.
International assistance is on the way, with countries including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. pledging aid to support Vietnam’s recovery efforts.
