The Vietnamese government said landslides and floods triggered by Typhoon Yagi have killed dozens of people, as authorities warned Monday of the continued threat of flooding in the country.
Cyclone Yagi is considered the strongest storm to hit Asia this year, having made landfall on Vietnam’s northeastern coast last Saturday. The government confirmed in a statement late Sunday that the cyclone had caused power and communications outages in several areas, including Quang Ninh and Haiphong provinces.
The government said 49 people were killed and 22 others were missing.
The hurricane caused extensive damage to infrastructure in the north of the country, with winds exceeding 149 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour) destroying roofs, sinking boats and causing landslides. When the hurricane reached land, its classification was downgraded to a tropical depression, with authorities describing it as “one of the strongest hurricanes the region has seen in the last decade.”
Bridge collapse
Local authorities announced that a major bridge in Phu Tho province collapsed today, Monday, with an official from the provincial transport department telling local media: “This bridge was usually crowded and is considered one of the main bridges in the region.” So far, there have been no reports of injuries. Preliminary investigations indicated that 8 vehicles were on the bridge when it collapsed.
Local reports also said that at least 10 vehicles had fallen into the river, while 13 people were missing. The deputy prime minister confirmed that authorities had yet to determine whether there had been any casualties as a result of the bridge collapse and that the military had been instructed to act with the construction of an alternative floating bridge as soon as possible.
Common scenes
Users on social media platforms shared scenes showing the strength of the hurricane, considered the strongest in Asia this year, as it reached the northeastern coast of Vietnam, causing widespread destruction.
Continuous warnings
Although the storm has weakened into a tropical depression, local authorities have warned of the possibility of further flooding and landslides as the storm moves westward. In Yen Bai province, floodwater levels have reached one meter, forcing 2,400 families to migrate to higher ground.
Scientists confirm that hurricanes have become more powerful and more frequent due to climate change. Warmer oceans provide additional energy to these storms, which increases wind speeds, and a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, which contributes to heavier rainfall.
Hurricanes and their dangers
Hurricanes are powerful, spiraling air storms that form from a group of thunderstorms. They are the largest type of tropical or tropical storm. The storm becomes a hurricane when wind speeds reach 119 kilometers per hour (74 miles per hour).
Hurricanes originate over the warm waters of tropical oceans, such as the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, particularly in summer and fall, between latitudes 5 and 20 north and south of the equator.