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Super Typhoon Yagi Ravages Northern Vietnam: Major Disruptions and Widespread Damage

Super Typhoon Yagi Ravages Northern Vietnam: Major Disruptions and Widespread Damage
Saturday 07 September 2024 - 12:30
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Super Typhoon Yagi has struck northern Vietnam with devastating force, leading to extensive damage and significant disruptions. The typhoon, described by meteorologists as one of the most powerful in the region in the past decade, made landfall on Saturday, impacting the coastal provinces of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh. With wind speeds reaching between 150-166 km/h (93-103 mph), Yagi uprooted trees, tossed boats into the sea, and inflicted damage on power lines.

Vietnamese authorities responded promptly, ordering evacuations from vulnerable areas, especially those prone to flooding and landslides. The typhoon’s path affected several key locations, including Quang Ninh, which is renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay. The popular tourist destination saw numerous cruise cancellations in anticipation of the storm. Hai Phong, an industrial center housing major factories such as EV manufacturer VinFast and Apple supplier Pegatron, experienced significant disruption, with metal roof sheets and commercial signboards being swept away by the high winds.

In the Hai Duong province, a man lost his life when a tree fell due to the storm’s intense winds. The capital city, Hanoi, also reported fatalities, with a woman killed by a toppled tree before the typhoon made landfall. In response to the storm, four airports in northern Vietnam, including Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, were closed, and sailing activities were suspended.

Before impacting Vietnam, Typhoon Yagi had already caused considerable damage in southern China’s Hainan island, resulting in two deaths and 92 injuries. The storm prompted the evacuation of approximately 460,000 people. Earlier in the week, while still classified as a tropical storm, Yagi claimed at least 21 lives in the Philippines.

As Yagi moves away from the region, its aftermath underscores the destructive power of severe weather events and the importance of timely response measures to mitigate their impact on vulnerable communities.


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