The death toll in Vietnam has climbed to nearly 200, with more than 125 people still missing, as flash floods and landslides continue to wreak havoc in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, state media reported on Thursday.
According to the VNExpress newspaper, 197 people have died, 128 remain missing, and over 800 have been injured. The situation worsened earlier this week when a flash flood swept away the entire hamlet of Lang Nu in northern Vietnam’s Lao Cai province on Tuesday. Rescue teams worked around the clock, but 53 villagers were still unaccounted for as of Thursday morning. The bodies of seven more victims were recovered, bringing the local death toll to 42.
Most deaths have occurred due to floods and landslides, particularly in the northwestern Lao Cai province, which borders China. Lang Nu, the devastated hamlet, is located here, and it is the popular tourist destination of Sapa.
Roads across the province have been blocked by landslides and heavy rainfall, affecting local transportation. Van A Po, a tour guide in Sapa, expressed concerns: “It is very scary,” he said, explaining that trekking activities have been suspended due to safety risks. Tourism, a crucial part of the local economy, has been paralysed, with many workers unable to return home. Nguyen Van Luong, a hotel worker, said he was stranded because the 15-kilometer road from Sapa to his village had become too dangerous to travel. “The road is badly damaged, and landslides could happen at any moment,” he said. “My family told me to stay here until it’s safer.”
In another tragic incident, a bridge in Phu Tho province collapsed into the Red River, sweeping 10 vehicles and two motorbikes into the swollen waters. Meanwhile, a bus carrying 20 passengers was swept away by floodwaters following a landslide in mountainous Cao Bang province, killing dozens.
Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Vietnam in decades, made landfall on Saturday with wind speeds reaching up to 149 kph. Although the storm weakened on Sunday, torrential rains have persisted, and rivers remain dangerously high.
The industrial sector in northern Vietnam has also been affected, with factories in export-focused areas sustaining significant damage.
According to Benjamin Horton, director of the Earth Observatory of Singapore, storms like Yagi are intensifying due to climate change. “Warmer ocean waters provide more energy to fuel storms, leading to stronger winds and heavier rainfall,” Horton explained, highlighting the growing threat of such extreme weather events.