Floods, landslides hit Vietnam as typhoon toll hits 197
Several Hanoi districts have been inundated on Thursday as floods and landslides continued to affect areas in northern Vietnam with the death toll from Typhoon Yagi climbing to 197.
Vietnam is still reeling from the impact of Yagi, the strongest storm to hit Asia this year, which made landfall on Saturday. At least 128 were missing and some 800 people have been injured since the storm struck, according to the government’s disaster management agency.
« High flooding water levels have flooded riverside and low-lying areas, eroded dykes and threatened parts of Hanoi and other northern provinces, » the agency said in a report.
The city had earlier evacuated thousands of people living near the swollen river as its waters rose to a 20-year high.
North of Hanoi, deadly landslides and severe floods are still affecting several areas, according to state media reports.
« I never thought my house would be under water this deep, » said Hoang Van Ty outside his home in Thai Nguyen province.
« My clothes and furniture are all under the water. Many things were floating around too but luckily I closed the doors so nothing was washed away. »
Thai Nguyen province is home to Samsung Electronics’ largest smartphone manufacturing plant in Vietnam. Floodwaters have receded in some parts of the province, where clean up efforts are now taking place.
The landslides and floods have inundated more than 200,000 hectares of rice and cash crop fields, according to the disaster management agency.
The typhoon has also disrupted power supplies and blown off roofs of several factories in Haiphong and Quang Ninh provinces, halting their production.
Many roads were blocked by landslides and unrelenting rainfall, said Sapa tour guide Van A Po. The weather has forced them to limit travel with all trekking suspended.
« It is very scary, » he said.
Tourism is a key engine for Vietnamese economy, and many in the industry found themselves stranded.
Nguyen Van Luong, who works in a hotel, said he couldn’t return home since the 15km road from Sapa to his village was too dangerous to drive.
« The road is badly damaged and landslides could happen anytime. My family told me to stay here until it’s safer to go home. »
Several countries, including Australia, Japan and the United States, have announced they were sending aid to Vietnam.
The first initial tranche of Australia’s emergency relief supplies was scheduled to arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.
The US announced a $US1 million ($A1.5 million) in immediate humanitarian aid through the US Agency for International Development.
The Australian Associated Press – September 12, 2024