Eeshna Dashottar, Pune
Vietnam has been facing grave damage and loss since Typhoon Yagi hit the northern part of the country. Around 179 people have lost their lives and nearly 145 have gone missing due to the heavy flooding in the region. With the capital city Hanoi being one of the worst affected regions, thousands of people have been evacuated as the water level in Red River rose to a 20-year high.
The typhoon hit the region on 7 September 2024 with winds of 149 kph (92 mph). It brought heavy rains and strong winds to the area, causing the Red River to overflow. As a result, severe losses of lives and further damages have been reported in the country.
Typhoon Yagi is reported to have huge devastating effects, leading to one of the worst floodings in the capital city of Hanoi in 20 years. As the streets in the capital were severely flooded, houses of many living near the Red River were submerged. EVN, the country’s state-run utility further announced power cuts in major flooded areas in Hanoi for safety concerns. They also stopped water discharge from the Hoa Binh hydropower dam, Vietnam’s second largest dam in the northern region, to restrict water flow in Red River’s tributary, the Da River. Schools have been shut for the rest of the week owing to the conditions in the city.
Vietnam has several multinational companies and industrial zones which form a significant part of the global supply chains. Disruption in their functioning is expected as the ones located near Hanoi have been shut down due to floods. Amongst major infrastructural damages, the Phong Chau Bridge in northern Vietnam collapsed with passengers falling into the Red River as the typhoon hit the country.
Other northern provinces also faced severe landslides due to flooding, leading to the loss of dozens of lives. It was also reported that Lang Nu hamlet was massively submerged as water from a mountain in Lao Cai province gushed into the hamlet.
The release of water by Chinese hydropower plants into the Lo River, a tributary of the Red River has been one of the major concerns at Vietnam officials. However, Beijing has assured support and collaboration in managing the flood situation in Vietnam.
Rescue missions and relief efforts have been actively happening in the country to overcome the disruptions in affected regions.